LT Industries introduces new, improved NIR biodiesel analyzer

Photo: LT Industries Inc.

October 3, 2013

BY Ron Kotrba

LT Industries has released Near Infrared (NIR) analyzers designed to meet biodiesel production and quality testing needs worldwide. The company says its newly updated Parafuel Biodiesel Analyzer provides comprehensive analysis in biodiesel research, development and production. The analyzers are available for either process or bench-top applications.

“Our new biodiesel analyzer is a significant update on our previous analyzer’s design,” said Brian Thomson with LT Industries. “It can do measurements that our previous version could not.”

The Parafuel Biodiesel Analyzers can measure ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 properties including flash point, viscosity, cetane number, moisture, acid number, glycerin, and distillation temperature. They can also measure concentrations of species such as methanol or esters, and monitor transesterification reactions. The new product has improved sensitivity over previous analyzers, which has expanded the measurements that LT-NIR can perform.

“At the core of the update is a new detector system, which results in an order of magnitude better sensitivity,” Thomson told Biodiesel Magazine. “This improved sensitivity is what opens up a new range of biodiesel measurements.”  

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The new measurements this version can perform are free and total glycerin, including mono-, di- and triglycerides, and water content.

“The analyzer also has measuring tools—probes and flow cells—designed specifically for biodiesel production conditions, expanding what was available in the previous version,” Thomson said. “It also comes with the newest version of our operator software.”

In online operation, up to 20 process points can be monitored simultaneously and integrated into existing control systems via standard communication protocols such as Modbus or 4-20mA. Included with each analyzer are software modules for seamless integration and result reporting. Online NIR analysis is used to monitor and control key chemical usage, optimize residence times, inspect quality and make real-time adjustments to changing process conditions.

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Portable, bench-top analyzers are also available from LT-NIR to perform at line or laboratory analysis of raw materials, intermediaries and final products. They can be used in research and quality applications.

For more information, click here

LT Industries has been a manufacturer of process and laboratory analyzers for the biofuel, fuel, chemical, food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries for more than 30 years.

 

 

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