Are you in the business of researching, developing or making… just about anything?
Chances are, no matter what industry you’re in, a composition analyzer can add accuracy and precision to your work and create a top-quality product that’s free from harmful contaminants or flaws.
Capable of use in the lab or on production lines, in process vessels and stationary settings, with the power to identify moisture levels and incorporate a multitude of calibrations, composition analyzers are the high-powered instrument you need for research and development or production.
They can identify all kinds of constituents besides moisture, including:
- Fats and oils
- Water Activity
- Proteins
- Film thickness
- Coat weight
- Carbon content
- BTU
- Contaminants
There’s a reason we continue to refer to composition analyzers as the Swiss-Army knife of testing instruments. Here’s a sampling of the myriad uses for composition analyzers:
Testing Pharmaceuticals for Impurities
Many industries rely on exact precision, but the pharmaceutical industry ranks at the top of those who rely on meticulous measurements. Accuracy is critical to the efficacy and safety of drugs. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration, United States Pharmacopeia and Pharmaceutical Microbiology Manual all require pharmaceuticals to meet strict regulations for toxicity, sterility and shelf life.
When pharmaceuticals are developed, shipped and stored for long periods, they can contain impurities that can make them unsafe for consumption. They can also lose their potency. To monitor this and to keep up with regulations from the FDA, USP and PMM, pharmaceuticals must be tested at each stage, from manufacture to consumer use, to ensure total safety.
A composition analyzer can pinpoint even trace amounts of impurities or changes in potency that can make a drug unsafe or ineffective.
Previously, the use of a composition analyzer has been a hurdle that was hard to overcome. Not many had the expertise to properly use the instruments. But with easy-to-use instruments like the BSS-1700 Near-Infrared Spectrometer, it’s easy to get research-quality results in any pharmaceutical environment.
Monitoring Quality, Nutrition and Cost Within the Food Industry
Consumers today share growing concerns about the nutritional value of food—the majority of consumers are reading nutrition labels and counting on them to be accurate and informative.
Likewise, food processors and manufacturers have an eye on keeping production costs low and food quality high. They also need to ensure they are meeting FDA requirements to ensure that food is safe and properly labeled.
From farm to table, there’s a lot that can happen to affect a food item’s nutritional value. Exposure to heat, light and air can affect the nutritional content. This means that at multiple stages throughout processing, foods need to be tested for accurate nutritional values and to optimize quality, shelf life and product stability.
The one instrument that can quickly and precisely test food for safety and nutritional values without halting production? A composition analyzer.
As John Bogart, Managing Director of Kett, states, “While composition analyzers are not new to the industry, advanced units today allow even less-skilled personnel to take instant lab-quality tests.”
Composition analyzers like the BS-F1000 Compact Fiber BeatSensor can be used in line with instant results to test for certain compositional characteristics in both end products and in-process substances, including:
- Moisture content
- Protein
- Fats and oils
- Sugar
- Fiber
- Starch
- Water activity
- Alcohol levels
Monitoring Contaminants and Homogeneity of Petroleum Products
Petroleum is found in countless products that we use every day, from the oil that lubricates our cars to lipsticks and petroleum jelly. In all of these substances, manufacturers need to ensure that they have created a product with a homogeneous blend for a smooth consistency and high-quality product.
Composition analyzers like the KJT270 Fiber Optic Analyzer offer real-time, in-line feedback. During the manufacturing process, samples can be tested for a homogeneous, contaminant-free blend without stopping production.
Petroleum-based fuels also need careful monitoring, for which a composition analyzer can be a valuable tool. Contaminants in the fuel tank can reduce combustion efficiency and even increase rates of corrosion if fuel manufacturers are not careful. Even too much water in fuel can lead to major issues.
The use of a composition analyzer like the BS-F1000 Compact Fiber Beat Sensor can help check for particles and contaminants during the refining process to prevent these issues from developing.
A Wide Range of Uses
Within the pharmaceutical, food and petroleum industries alone, composition analyzers have a vast array of applications. But these useful instruments can benefit the manufacturing process of other goods as well.
Pulp and Paper (and More)
A composition analyzer can analyze dryer cans for wet streaks and uneven drying without altering samples or needing to make contact. It can also monitor the chemical composition of pulp and paper as well as wood products, resins, fiber and binders.
Chemicals are added to pulp and paper products to improve their performance or to improve the production process. However, the presence of these chemicals in recyclable pulp and paper products can affect their recyclability.
These chemicals can be closely monitored using a composition analyzer in line with a KJT700 Advanced In-Line Composition Analyzer or while the products are in the development stage using a KJT270 Near-Infrared Desktop Composition Analyzer or the KJT270F Desktop Composition Analyzer With Fiber Optics model.
Chemical Manufacturing
A composition analyzer such as the desktop KJT270 Near-Infrared Composition Meter can measure the various chemical components of any liquid or solid using near-infrared reflectance and are ideal for most organic substances with unparalleled precision. These instruments are ideal for both lab and research and development settings and can be used in almost any situation.
Polymers and Films
Near-infrared composition analyzers and spectrometers can be used in line to measure moisture content as well as to monitor and control the solution, suspension and emulsion polymerization processes.
Too much moisture can result in the reduction of a polymer’s mechanical properties or lead to surface or structural defects or corrosive wear. Too little moisture will result in polymers that are brittle or shatter easily. A composition analyzer can be especially helpful during the development stage of polymers when the KJT270F Desktop Composition Analyzer With Fiber Optics can give accurate readings.
Improper or incomplete drying can cause major issues, either when the product is being produced, when it is in use or both. A composition analyzer will help prevent this from happening. You can read more about the creation of polymers and moisture content here.
Are you searching for a composition analyzer for product development or production? Our engineers are ready to help you find the perfect instrument for your uses. While at first it may seem that there are as many composition analyzers as there are uses for them, we will help you narrow the field and find an accurate, durable, long-lasting composition analyzer to meet your exact specifications.We’re standing by ready to guide you. Contact us today to learn more!
