Process Chemistry Laboratory

New Orleans Process Chemistry Analysis

New Orleans Process Chemistry Analytical Laboratory offers a wide range of analytical testing capabilities and expertise. The laboratory is ISO-1705 accredited.

New Orleans process chemistry lab techniques

X-Ray Fluoresence Spectroscopy Analysis:

The lab can detect over 60 elements, from sodium to uranium, giving quantitative as well as qualitative data. Samples as small as 10 milligrams are analyzed with confidence.

Particle Size Analysis:

The laboratory characterizes particle size distribution of powders or slurried materials, with the ability to characterize particles from 0.4 to 2000 microns in either a dry powder or a slurry matrix.

Particle size distribution is a specification for many solid materials, especially materials designed to move by gravity flow or pneumatic conveyor. Particle size is an important parameter for catalytic materials such as Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) and other slurry type catalyst.

Controlled Atmosphere Glove Boxes:

The laboratory has three controlled nitrogen purged atmosphere glove boxes so that air and moisture sensitive materials can be handled with confidence. Alarms to ensure atmosphere inside the glove boxes never rises above 1 ppm oxygen. Glove boxes are equipped with mini antechambers for rapid handling of samples.

Surface Area Analysis:

Surface area is an important characteristic in catalysts and adsorbent materials and molecular sieves. The lab allows determination of total surface area and pore size distributions for solid samples.

Algorithms available for isotherm data analysis
include the Langmuir and BET models. Surface area analysis data produced include: BET Surface Area, Correlation Coefficient, Micropore Surface Area, Micropore Volume, Adsorption Pore Size Distribution, Total Pore Volume and more.

The laboratory allows chemisorption analysis using
gases like hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. This data is useful for studies of active sites in catalysts and metallic particle sizes laid down on substrates.

X-Ray Pellet Press Sample Preparation:

For samples that require compaction preparation before analysis and to make long term handling of some samples easier, the laboratory has installed an automatic pellet press.

Polymer Melt Flow Analysis:

To characterize polymer sample rheological properties, the laboratory has added melt flow index analyzers. These instruments adhere to the specifications set forth in ASTM D1238.