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MOTOREX Magazine 2018 112 EN

INSIDE WHAT’S IN IT,

INSIDE WHAT’S IN IT, AND HOW MUCH IS THERE? Have you ever wondered what ingredients besides orange juice, ice (water) and a cherry might be in your cocktail, and in what proportions? The gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) at the MOTOREX lab can detect substances with extreme precision, even at concentrations of less than one part per billion (ppb). For example, the process could determine whether there are still traces of dishwashing liquid in the glass. Precision analysis is one of the many elements that make top-quality MOTOREX products and services possible. TEAMWORK BETWEEN TWO ANALYTICAL PROCESSES The gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) is made up of two perfectly complementary devices connected in series: GAS CHROMATOGRAPH (GC) Gas chromatography is an analytical method for separating mixtures into individual chemical compounds. A heated mixture of the sample with a carrier gas (such as helium) is forced through a separating tube (capillary column) and separated into its components by volatility and polarity. At the end of the separation process is a detector that precisely measures the throughput time and quantity for each substance contained in the sample. The “headspace” process can also be used to more easily detect volatile components in the gas phase. MASS SPECTROMETER (MS) Mass spectroscopy (MS) is used to measure mass by ionizing molecules, giving them an electric charge. These charged particles, or parts of them, are then sorted and analyzed by their mass and charge, by which they can be precisely identified. THE KEY TO A NEW LEVEL OF QUALITY Using the gas chromatography mass spectrometer yields numerous benefits for you, our customer. Below are a few examples of how analysis results in combination with the expertise of the MOTOREX R&D department can pay off: 20

ANALYSIS Composition of raw materials and products (by-products, purity, etc.) Precise identification of volatile substances (odors, solvents, etc.) Critical ingredients/residues (minimal trace quantities in the ppb range and below!) Product performance (aging resistance, reaction products, etc.) Contamination (mixtures, residues, etc.), e. g. customer samples BENEFIT Guaranteed quality/conformity with specifications Worker exposure/VOC content Optimization of cleaning processes, etc. Determining optimum service life Identifying sources of contamination 1. SAMPLE Liquid (1 microliter = 0.001 ml) or gaseous (1 unit, e.g. of an implant) in the vapor space sample. 2. INSERTION OF THE SAMPLE The sample is automatically injected with high precision. 3. GC-MS ANALYSIS The heated sample (at up to 400 °C) passes through a 30 m separation column (capillary tube, center of image) to the GC detector. There the mass spectrometer takes further measurements. COMPARISON OF SERVICE STATION GASOLINE (RED) VS. ASPEN 4T ALKYLATE GASOLINE (GREEN) Number of signals Red = Unleaded 95 fuel Green = ASPEN 4T 4. ASSESSMENT Whereas numerous critical aromatic compounds such as toluene (after 3.034 min) and xylene (after 4.710 min) can be detected in conventional gasoline, the signals from ASPEN 4T come from linear or branched hydrocarbons that are significantly less hazardous than aromatic compounds. The GC-MS helps identify the individual compounds. Throughput time (of compounds) in minutes (All explanations simplified to aid understanding) MOTOREX MAGAZINE 112 I MAY 2018 21

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