Lab News - Mettler Toledo · 2020. 1. 22. · METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 7 3 DSC helps compose new formulations Many types of waxes exist and include the following: • Bees wax –

Weighing and Analysis in the Laboratory

7News

LabAnalytical solutions in the laboratory

The water content of the famous Ricola herbal drops made from Swiss

mountain herbs needs to be carefully controlled during the entire

production chain. For more than 20 years, Ricola has monitored this

parameter with a volumetric Karl Fischer titrator from METTLER TOLEDO

to ensure high quality of herbal products.

A traditional Swiss brandSince Ricola AG was founded 80 years ago in Switzerland, the famous herbal drops have helped a great many people with sore or dry throats. Additionally, the tradition-al family business offers a wide range of products from herbal teas to sugar-free herbal pearls in numerous flavors and packages. The entire Ricola herbal assort-ment is produced in Switzerland with around 90 % of the products being ex-ported to over 50 countries worldwide.

The healing power of the prominent drops underlies a well guarded recipe of thir-teen herbs. The herbs in Ricola drops and lozenges are grown in the Swiss mountain area, in controlled, natural conditions, without the use of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or artificial ferti-

lizers. Therefore, it is one of Ricola’s key focuses to keep up high quality standards. An important parameter of the quality management is the water content of the raw materials and the drops themselves. Production processes experience serious problems if the water content rises above a certain level. Similarly, the appearance of each drop is influenced by surrounding humidity. Therefore, water content moni-toring is not only crucial during product development, but also as a control para-meter for process and storage stability.

Challenging samplesDue to such specific criteria, the Ricola quality control department needs to know exactly how much water their products contain. The first challenge in water determination is to release the water from

Secret Recipes behindRicola’s Herbal Drops

2 METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 7

Publisher Mettler-Toledo AG Laboratory Division Im Langacher CH-8606 Greifensee, Switzerland

Production Segment Marketing LABGlobal MarCom Switzerland

Subject to technical changes. © Mettler-Toledo AG 08/10 Printed in Switzerland.

Karl

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ator the material matrix. For Ricola’s samples,

the best option is to use a solvent mixture of formamid and methanol, ideally at 50 °C, to enhance and speed up sample dissolution.

This task is easily solved with a Karl Fischer volumetric titrator with a thermo-static beaker from METTLER TOLEDO. By using the solvent manager, toxic for-mamid can be pumped automatically in-to the titration cell and into a waste bottle after use, avoiding direct contact with dangerous solutions.

20 years of reliability METTLER TOLEDO’s volumeter has had a home with Ricola for more than a quarter of its own history. The first Karl-Fischer instrument was purchased 1989 and just recently replaced by two new V30s for the production site and distri-bution center. Already validated, the in-struments are used daily by a team of laboratory technicians. One of the favor-ite new features is the touchscreen which is regarded as very convenient and easy-to-use. Daniel Spaar, manager of quality control, commented that, “The METTLER TOLEDO volumeter has proven to be highly reliable with a long life over the past two decades. Furthermore, we really appreciate the prompt service if needed. These were our main reasons for deciding on two V30s for, hopefully, an-other 20 years.”

www.mt.com/one-click-water-determination

Nicole Peters, employee of Quality Assurance.

3METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 7

DSC helps compose new formulationsMany types of waxes exist and include the following:• Bees wax – a substance obtained from

honeycomb.• Carnauba wax – an exudate from Bra-

zilian wax palm tree leaf pores.• Candelilla wax – obtained from the

candelilla plant and produced by im-mersing the plants in boiling water containing sulfuric acid and skimming off the wax that rises to the surface.

DSC is an excellent tool for analyzing the melting behavior of wax blends. The re-sults, shown in Figure 1, were measured using the METTLER TOLEDO DSC 1, with intracooler, and evaluated using the STARe software.

Samples of 3 different lipstick base mate-rials were heated from -15 °C to 100 °C at a heating rate of 10 K/min in a nitrogen

The Right Wax Formulation for Lipsticks

Lipstick contains a variety of waxes, oils, pigments and emollients.

The wax is a very important component as it gives lipstick its shape

and ease of application. In order to analyze the composition of wax

blends, a fingerprint of the melting can be taken. This is done using

differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

atmosphere. The DSC curves show that all 3 samples exhibit different melting peaks. The melting peaks correspond to 3 wax components present in the material. The slight differences in the evaluated peak temperatures can serve to distinguish the materials from each other.

The DSC 1 is a valuable instrument for R&D purposes in the cosmetic industry. It provides excellent and reliable calorimet-ric measurement performance and high temperature accuracy.

www.mt.com/dsc

DSC

Figure 1. Fingerprint measurements of 3 different wax blends by DSC.


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Streamlined balance testingMany manufacturers depend on analyti-cal instruments, including balances, for product QC. The reliable and accurate performance of these analytical devices

is critical for effective QC, which means the instruments themselves must also undergo regular maintenance as well as scheduled testing and calibration. The new safety feature, based on XP balance

Documented evidence of routine quality control (QC) processes is

essential for demonstrating GLP compliance. Zeochem AG, manufac-

turer of molecular sieves and chromatography gels, has recently tested

METTLER TOLEDO’s safety feature GWPExcellence™ and has immedi-

ately recognized the benefits of the firmware for the QC of its labora-

tory balances.

firmware, streamlines balance testing by reminding the user to ensure that sched-uled tests are performed.

GLP complianceZeochem AG is a global supplier of mo-lecular sieves which are used in the pe-troleum industry and for gas separation and purification, and is one of the larg-est manufacturers of chromatography gels for the chemical and pharmaceuti-cal industries. All Zeochem’s products are manufactured in its production plants in Uetikon, Switzerland, and Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Each plant has a quality control laboratory for the chemical and physical analysis of raw materials, inter-mediates and final products using a range of analytical instruments, including Ex-cellence Plus XP analytical balances.

As a supplier to the pharmaceutical in-dustry, GLP compliance is important for Zeochem to meet certain quality

Never Miss a TestThanks to Scheduled Testing Reminders

Nicolas Di Menna, manager of quality control and quality systems at Zeochem.


standards required by their customers, including maintenance and regular test-ing of laboratory equipment. Nicolas Di Menna, manager of quality control and quality systems at Zeochem, Switzerland, explained, “For documented records of our instrument testing, we are currently using a paper-based system that is linked to our LIMS, which automatically prints out forms for manual data entry. We test our balances weekly by calibration using a standard weight. To complement this sys-tem, we wanted a simple arrangement to remind us when testing is due before the units are used. We trialed the new GWPEx-cellence safety function in the XP balance, which METTLER TOLEDO had developed to do exactly what we needed, on one of our Excellence XP balances.”

GWPExcellence in actionWith the GWPExcellence, it is no longer a disaster to forget about scheduled testing because the firmware reminds the user to

perform the testing at the correct time and the balance is automatically blocked to prevent its use if calibration is not carried out. With only the paper-based system, it is possible to continue using the balance without performing the scheduled cali-brations, potentially leading to inaccurate measurements.

“The GWPExcellence works quickly, is in-tuitive and user-friendly. It has helped to improve the testing of our balances and has had a positive impact on our sched-uled maintenance programs. We have been happy with its performance and we plan to upgrade all 10 of our XP balances with this helpful new safety feature,” Nicolas concluded.

www.mt.com/GWPExcellence

Silicon beads


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Moisture control of raw materialsEftec AG is a worldwide leading supplier to automotive manufacturers of adhesives, coatings, sealants and sound dampening materials for use at every stage of produc-tion from the body shop to final assembly. Almost all materials used in production require a tight moisture content control which is critical in order to ensure trouble-free manufacturing processes and high quality products.

Raw materials, such as carbon black, are mixed with additives to form different adhesives. The correct moisture level is crucial for the mixing process. Bruno Müller, head of the QC laboratory ex-plained, “If the carbon black is too wet,

then the material will cure prematurely during the mixing process, leading to poor quality products and potentially damag-ing the mixing apparatus.”

Adequate drying for optimal resultThe carbon black must be dried in order to ensure that the material does not exceed a defined moisture level. Each batch of dried carbon black is analyzed for its moisture content before the mixing vessel is filled. In the past, this analysis was conducted by specialized laboratory personnel using Coulometric Titration. This meant that the QC laboratory had to work the same shifts as production, which required extra resources.

High Performance Adhesives and PrimersRequire Precise Moisture Content Control

In modern car manufacturing, adhesive bonding is increasingly

replacing conventional, mechanical bonding techniques. Adhesives

provide optimum body strength combined with reduced weight. Eftec

has recently started using METTLER TOLEDO Moisture Analyzers to

speed up their testing processes and reduce their laboratory workload.

Looking for a faster and easier way to test the moisture content directly on the production line, Eftec started evaluating moisture analyzers as these instruments are very robust and can be operated by untrained workers to deliver highly repro-ducible results.

Mr. Müller chose the METTLER TOLEDO HB43-S for its proven measurement tech-nology, robust design and clear user guid-ance which ensures trouble-free operation in all environments. The HB43-S com-bines proven METTLER TOLEDO weigh-ing technology with ultrafast halogen heating, leading to short testing times and highly reproducible measurement results.

Eftec supplies a wide variety of bonding, sealing, coating and dampening products for use in automotive manufacturing.

Car manufactureres use Eftec's products in all steps of production, from body shop to final assembly.


Since 1985 Eftec AG has been a member of the EMS group which is active worldwide in the areas of Performance Polymers and Fine Chemicals/Engineer-ing. Eftec AG has production fa-cilities in Switzerland, UK, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Russia, Roma-nia, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Thai-land, China and India.

The cross validation with the titration method in the laboratory showed that the same results were achieved with the HB43-S Moisture Analyzer. The production workers are now able to check the moisture content of the dried carbon black quickly and easily themselves without having to wait for laboratory tests. Determination of dry content in primersAdhesives are used to safely bond wind-shields, headlights and taillights and also provide vehicle body strength. In vehicle interiors, adhesives bond headliners, door panels, instrument panels, seating com-ponents and more. Primers increase the bonding quality between the adhesive and the metal and glass surfaces and therefore play an important role in the whole adhe-sion process.

Eftec produces a large range of high per-formance primers. The quality of a primer depends, among other things, on its final dry content. Therefore, Eftec regularly verifies the dry content of different prim-ers with an HR83 Moisture Analyzer from METTLER TOLEDO. The HR83 combines a resolution of 10 ppm with unique tools for test method development and quality control. Methods for up to 40 substances can be stored and accessed directly in this versatile instrument, making the testing of new substances highly efficient.

Working with METTLER TOLEDOEftec AG in Switzerland has decided to focus on METTLER TOLEDO as its main provider for balances and analytical in-struments. To maintain the plant uptime and ensure trouble-free measurements, Mr. Müller also values efficient applica-tion support and fast trouble-shooting, remarking, “When I now think of new equipment, I think first of METTLER TOLEDO.”

www.mt.com/Moisture

HR83 Moisture Analyzer


Onl

ine

Tool

s Seeing is BelievingWatch the Video and Convince Yourself

Common lab dilemma

The multimedia gallery demonstrates innovative solutions for even the most challenging weighing process in your lab. The unique product features and innovative accessories guarantee efficient and ergonomic sample handling.

Our solutions

Disturbance of electrostaticYour sample sticks to the tare container due to elec-trostatic charging and and the balance won’t stabilize.

Anti-static kit – discharges samples instantlyThe U-Electrode remove charges from samples and tare vessels immediately. Toxic substances no longer pose a threat to the user and cross-contamination of samples is prevented.

Spillage of precious samplesYou use weighing paper to transfer precious sample to a tare container. The sample is easily spilled and results are inaccurate.

ErgoClip – doses samples securelyThe ErgoClips safer dosing method substantially reduces con-tamination risks, enables fast dosing processes and increases productivity.

Handling of toxic chemicalsYou’re handling harmful chemicals and want to avoid direct contact.

Solvent Manager – handles chemicals safelyThe Solvent Manager increases operator’s safety in the lab by ensuring that direct contact with harmful chemicals is avoided.

www.mt.com/lab-AntiStatic

www.mt.com/ergoclips

www.mt.com/ titration-solventmanager


METTLER TOLEDO's product finders in mt.com provide a straightforward way to find a product best matching your needs. Just key in your specific criteria and let the product finders do the rest.

Take the direct route to what you are looking for

EasyFinder™ finds your balance of choiceChoosing the right balance for your lab becomes straight forward. Simply enter your selection criteria, select the mod-els of interest and learn more about and/or compare details of the chosen models.

www.lab-balance.com

Sensor product guide foroptimized measurementThis interactive and animated tool helps you to identify the most suited sensor for your specific application.

www.electrodes.net

Find a NewClassic balance in just 30 secondsJust enter your technical criteria and the quick search guides you through a variety of NewClassic models. Click on the product’s picture to learn about the product in detail.

www.mt.com/newclassic


Prod

uct N

ews Quantos Automated Dosing

Expands Modern Analysis

The innovative Quantos QX1 and QB1-L significantly improve performance in ana-

lytics, such as UHPLC, as they take care of a very critical step – sample prepara-

tion. The new systems automatically take care of weighing, sample clean-up and

dilution reducing sample quantities by up to 90%, dramatically reducing the use

of solvents, such as acetonitrile. Consequently, users are protected from hazard-

ous substances and products from possible damaging contamination.

Precise micro liquid dosingThe revolutionary technology of micro powder dosing with an ul-tra precise micro-dosing system for liquids achieving an extreme-ly precise sample preparation.

Fully automated QX1Tiny sample sizes of as little as 1 mg can be prepared in accor-dance with USP guidelines in a concentration of up to 1:10,000 and within 1% accuracy.

Compact version: QB1-LCompact instrument for sample preparation of powdery and non free-flowing substances thanks to the integrated analytical balance.Liquids are automatically added. www.mt.com/quantos


In order to ensure the consistent product quality of flavors and fragrances, the refractive

index and density of each individual batch need to be checked. The new LiquiPhysics

Excellence line includes all tools necessary to automate the measurement of both para m-

eters simultaneously.

www.mt.com/LiquiPhysics

Density and Refractive Indexesin One Single Run

LabX

Modular solutionsUpgrading a RM refractometer with a DX density cell module is a cost- and space-saving solution al-lowing the determination of both density and refractive index.

Simultaneous dataThe quality control of flavors and fragrances requires the determina-tion of several parameters. Liqui-Physics™ Excellence can perform all measurements in one run.

Data traceabilityLabX™ PC software effortlessly runs and controls each instrument and safely transfers data onto a superor-dinate ERP or LIMS system.

Continuous measurementScanStraight facilitates sample data input when performing mea-surements on a sample changer. Once the vials are placed on the tray, LiquiPhysics™ Excellence au-tomatically takes care of the rest.

Spotlight on Promotion

www.mt.comFor more information

Mettler-Toledo AGLaboratory DivisionIm LangacherCH-8606 Greifensee, Switzerland

Trade in your old Melting Point apparatus and get a MP70 or MP90 for an exceptional price!

Simple, efficient & video-recorded• Color touch screen with One Click™ user interface• Simultaneous determination of up to six samples• Color video recording and convenient playback on the

instrument• Conformity with current standards: Ph. Eur., USP, ASTM, ISO and others

Excellence Melting Point SystemsTrade-In Offer

Offer is valid until December 31, 2010.

www.mt.com/one-click-melting

Documents

Lab News - Mettler Toledo · 2020. 1. 22. · METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 7 3 DSC helps compose new formulations Many types of waxes exist and include the following: • Bees wax –