Enhance your XRF capabilities with integrated workflow solutions
If you’re reading this, you already know that reliable materials analysis can enable more efficient process control, better material pricing, and reduced production and process costs. All of which are key in maximizing product quality and minimizing waste and CO2 emissions – whether it’s in a large-scale mining process or downstream product manufacturing.
We already talk a lot about how the right instrument can support this analysis, but that’s not the only element of success. In our recent blog, we explored the benefits of an integrated analytical workflow, and one of them is an enhancement to the analytical capabilities and results themselves. That’s because many analytical techniques require costly certified reference materials (CRMs) and calibration standards, or specialized methods or sample preparation techniques – but with an integrated workflow, sourcing these standards and performing these techniques can be much quicker and easier.
Choosing the right technique and reference materials
Take XRF as an example. With this technique, choosing the right sample preparation technique is a crucial step in ensuring analytical precision and accuracy. And, when pressed powder analysis is required, mineralogical differences in CRMs compared to process materials often compromise accuracy.
At Malvern Panalytical, we offer several solutions based on your material needs and analytical requirements. For instance, our facility in Nottingham, UK, is a center of excellence for the development and production of CRMs, and calibration standards. The laboratory offers CRM production under ISO 17034:2016 accreditation and analytical services under ISO/IEC 17025:2017, accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for several standardized methods. We can also develop and optimize your sample preparation methods for a wide range of materials, including metals, minerals, geological materials, oils, catalysts, and chemicals.
Making method development easier
Another challenge in XRF is method development – especially when dealing with unique sample characteristics. That’s why we developed our XRF method development service. Through this service, we develop and produce bespoke calibration materials and methods to match the exact chemical compositions and ranges that you require – and we’ll help you deploy them on-site if needed.
Our close cooperation with key partners across the globe allows us to offer this service for a wide range of materials, including geological materials, minerals, metals, oils, fuels, polymers, and biomass applications, and more. By using calibration materials created from your very own process materials, you’ll benefit from more accurate, high-quality results.
Tools that work together
By taking a wide-angle view of the services and products used throughout your workflow, we can also help you reduce the potential for error and deliver more consistent results with the accuracy you need. An integrated set of equipment and support services ensures you get the most from your instrument. For instance, tools like Smart Manager offer a centralized view of the usage history of your Smart Instruments and flag potential problems directly to us.
We can even help you introduce automation across your entire lab – including older automated equipment – backed up with a standard 10 years of support to keep it running at peak performance. By reducing human error and boosting efficiency, this extends your analytical capabilities and allows for more reliable results.
Already improving analytical results
Indeed, one of our customers has already been able to enhance its analytical capabilities through integrated workflow solutions. Facing poor analytical results and high end-user rejection rates with their benchtop WDXRF spectrometer and sample preparation instrument, this customer reached out to Malvern Panalytical.
Upon investigating, we found opportunities to improve the glass disk preparation method, choice of flux, correct standards, and staff training. We recommended relevant primary standards, developed secondary standards in Nottingham, offered a compatible XRF and sample preparation solution, and provided training on sample preparation and recipes for various materials. The result was simple: a marked improvement in the customer’s analytical results across the board.
If you’d like to see a similar upgrade to your analytical capabilities and the reliability of your results, reach out to us today – and we’ll help you design your ideal workflow.
Ready to elevate your analysis and unlock the full potential of your lab? Find out more about our holistic analytical chain offering here!