UKAS Accreditation Enhances Our Halides Testing Capability

Why is this important?

Halogen content plays a crucial role in both the creation and burning of fuels. As they go through the combustion process, they transform into compounds called halides, which include fluoride, chloride, bromide, and iodide. These compounds can cause issues like boiler corrosion and fouling, as well as the release of harmful substances into the environment. The analysis of halogen content is like a detective tool – it helps to predict potential emissions during burning, evaluate fuel quality according to industry standards, and address various scientific and commercial interests.

How do we do it?

We use a method called Combustion-Ion Chromatography (C-IC). We burn a known sample mass in a super-hot tube furnace at temperatures above 1000°C, surrounded by an oxygen and water vapor-rich environment. This causes the halogens in the sample to change into hydrogen halides and halogen gases, which we then capture in a special solution as halide ions. This solution is thoroughly analysed using ion chromatography, giving us precise measurements of fluorine, bromine, and iodine in milligrams per kilogram. And if you prefer percentages, we've got you covered – we convert these measurements to report chlorine content.

Hannah Allen, Laboratory Manager, explains, "This method boosts our lab's ability to analyse halides, improves our ability to detect even tiny amounts, and showcases SOCOTEC's commitment to bringing innovative techniques to the industry."

But that's not all! Anna Lloyd, Commercial Manager for Renewable Energy, adds, "We're always striving to improve and expand our services. Introducing this method to our clients is really exciting. It not only speeds up the time it takes to analyse halides compared to the traditional 'bomb wash' method, but it also sets us apart by offering two UKAS accredited methods for chlorine analysis in solid fuels."

And just so you know, our dedication doesn't stop here. We also provide accredited chlorine analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and we're delving into unaccredited analysis using the C-IC method to examine iodine content in coal, solid biofuel, SRF, and RDF samples.