Quality testing and chemical analysis services helping scientific, technology and manufacturing companies compete in the global market.
Avomeen Analytical Services understands the importance of confidentiality in serving our clients’ needs. All of our projects are maintained in secure facilities, and all employees have signed non-disclosure agreements.
The following sample projects have been completed by Avomeen scientists, and have been presented in a modified format to protect the identity of the clients.
Industry: Food and Beverage
Problem: Yellow discoloration on packaged food product
Solution: A regional food manufacturer was experiencing discoloration of its sealed food products weeks before their expiration date. Due to the major impact of this product contamination on their business, the customer requested a special rush service. The products were delivered to our lab on a Friday afternoon, and FT-IR and GC chemical testing results were available on Monday morning. When the cause of the contamination was determined not to be chemically-based, Avomeen followed up with a full-range of microbiological tests, which determined the cause of the contamination to be coliform bacteria. The customer used the report to enforce stricter sanitation practices among its employees.
Industry: Manufacturing
Problem: Supplier moving to China
Solution: A manufacturer that develops specialty pens found out that the last US distributor of their two inks were moving their ink production to China. The manufacturer wanted to begin producing the ink in-house to avoid any safety or quality issues from overseas production. With the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography, Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy, and extractions, Avomeen was able to provide the customer with a detailed deformulation report, including all of the ingredients and the quantities of each component. Our reformulation scientists then prepared three trial batches based on our deformulation analysis, allowing the customer to test different recipes for optimal efficacy.
Industry: Household Products
Problem: Developing a new cleaning product
Solution: An entrepreneur approached us with a plan to create a new cleaning product. He had researched many cleaners in the market, and found the current product that provided the best cleaning power. He sent samples of this product to Avomeen, where we used our deformulation expertise to identify the active and inactive ingredients of the existing product. Our scientists also compiled a detailed report of new academic research and patent applications in the field to determine where improvements could be made over existing products. Finally, our reformulation experts developed three new trial formulations for the entrepreneur to test and evaluate, along with final recipes allowing the client to make these new products on his own.
Industry: Manufacturing
Problem: Microscopic contamination
Solution: A producer of pressure measurement devices was manufacturing parts that measured less than 1 mm in size, and was experiencing microscopic contamination. The parts were being returned by customers, and were considered failed products. Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis were used to take high magnification pictures (100-1000x) and elemental scans of the microscopic contaminant particles. Through SEM/EDS analysis, we found that the particles were loosely on top of the product, and the contamination was not the result of a structural defect. The contaminant was found to be a byproduct of plastic degradation, the cause of which was traced back to the plastic tubing used in the manufacturing process.
Industry: Packaging Manufacturer
Problem: Choosing right vendor for plastic bottles
Solution: A baby food manufacturer wanted to switch from glass jars to plastic bottles to market its baby food product. The client was most concerned about safety concerns, as plastics are known to leach chemicals such as additives. The manufacturer had identified three vendors that supplied plastic bottles. The challenge was to identify the plastic bottles that would release the least amount of chemicals. Our scientists performed extractable and leachable studies by exposing the plastic bottle to temperatures and foods similar to real life conditions. The leached chemicals were then identified and quantified at parts per million level, using techniques such as LC/MS and GC/MS. The study identified the supplier with the safest plastics packaging.
Industry: Consumer Products
Problem: Identify source of chemical odor in gift bags
Solution: A fast food restaurant was concerned about a strong chemical odor that was present when children opened a gift bag containing a plastic toy and candy. There were thousands of gift bags that were defective and resulted in millions of dollars in losses. Involved parties in the legal battle were the manufacturer of the plastic toy, supplier of the bags and supplier of the candy. It was important to determine who was liable for the loss. Our scientists built specialized equipment that collected the odorous chemical using a charcoal absorbent. The chemicals were then desorbed and analyzed by state-of-art ultra-sensitive Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry instrumentation. The chemicals were identified as residual monomers in the manufacturing of the plastic toy.
Industry: Food and Beverage
Problem: Slimy material on beer bottles
Solution: A beer bottle manufacturer wanted us to identify the chemical nature of a slimy material found on their beer bottles. These bottles had been returned by the distributor. Initial research indicated the material to be a detergent. The material was carefully removed and analyzed by Raman Spectroscopy. The spectrum of the unknown was compared with thousands of spectra of detergents and cleaners. A perfect match was found with a commercial cleaning agent. The problem was traced to a failed cleaning system in the bottle filling plant.
Industry: Consumer Products
Problem: Japanese competitor sold a better product
Solution: A ball-point pen manufacturer wanted to know why the ink from a competing Japanese ball-point manufacturer dried faster and had a brighter color. The problem called for a detailed deformulation of the competing product, which involved separation of the various components using a series of solvent extractions and preparative chromatographic techniques. The ingredients were identified using NMR, GC/MS and FT-IR spectroscopy. While most of the ingredients in the competing ink were chemically similar to those in our client’s product, the competing product contained a metallic compound as identified by ICP-MS. The metallic compound served as a catalyst in the curing process, which caused the ink to dry faster. We also identified the additive responsible for the brightness.
Industry: Litigation Support
Problem: Was a police officer responsible for thefts?
Solution: A police officer on night duty was charged with trespassing and opening a safe in a local business. He had been the only person visible on the surveillance cameras during the night of the robbery. However, the officer claimed that he had only entered the building to check the premises for safety.
We examined the uniform that the police officer had worn on the day of the crime using a high-powered microscope. Metallic particles were seen on the uniform, which were removed and analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with a Energy Sispersive X-ray system (SEM-EDX). The composition of the metallic particles removed from the officer’s uniform was identical in composition to the surface coating of the safe that was broken into. Our Ph.D scientist served as the expert witness, and explained to the members of jury the analysis, methodology, and results.
Industry: Automotive Manufacturing
Problem: Breakage and peeling on an auto bumper
Solution: An automobile manufacturer noticed peeling and premature breakage on a polymer-based automobile bumper. The bumper was made using a blend of polymers. We examined the separation of layers with high-resolution microscopy and found adhesion failure at the separation. In order for the polymers to blend fully, a compatibilizer was necessary. Furthermore FT-IR analysis revealed no compatibilizer in the failed product.
Industry: Pharmaceutical
Problem: Black particles in Aspirin pills
Solution: A manufacturer of Aspirin tablets found black specks in their tablets. The tablets were analyzed by an FT-IR equipped with a microscope. Spectra of the black particles were obtained. The black particles appeared to be chemically similar to rubber used on gaskets. Examination of the manufacturing equipment revealed a damaged gasket that was chemically identical to the black particles found in the tablet.
Industry: Consumer Products
Problem: Artificial tattoo product seized by customs officials
Solution: A shipment of artificial tattoo products was held at the border by authorities when they suspected that the colors used were not safe. We were able to analyze the colors using UV/Vis spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy to establish that the materials used were approved for human consumption. Our analysis helped our client obtain the release of the product.
Industry: Food and Beverage
Problem: Plastic film in beer
Solution: Consumers found a plastic film floating on top of the beer as they opened beer cans. The polymer film was analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy and found to be chemically similar to the can coating. Analysis revealed incomplete curing of the protective plastic film, which caused adhesion failure and release of the coated film. Adjustment of the temperature of the curing step solved the problem to the client’s satisfaction.
Industry: Cosmetics
Problem: Needed new innovative product
Solution: An entrepreneur approached our scientist with an idea to develop a natural skincare/anti-aging treatment. He was also provided with samples of three different products currently on the market. The ingredients in the commercial products were deformulated, identified, and quantified using instrumentation such as FT-IR and LC/MS. Our formulation scientist then developed a product using all-natural products, which was of higher quality than any current products on the market.
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