Upgrade at National Lab

Verum Group’s National Laboratory has something new and glowing. Mike Young, Verum Group’s National Laboratory Manager, has recently overseen the installation of a LECO 828 Series Combustion Analyser for detecting carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, with an S832 add-on for independent sulfur determination.

Verum Group Fuels Chemist John Cameron tests a sample in the new LECO combustion analyser. Photo: Mike Young

 

John Cameron with LECO

May 2023: Verum Group’s National Laboratory has something new and glowing. Mike Young, Verum Group’s National Laboratory Manager, has recently overseen the installation of a LECO 828 Series Combustion Analyser for detecting carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, with an S832 add-on for independent sulfur determination.

Mike says the new equipment replaces an old instrument that needed continual maintenance.

“We’ve always produced quality results - Verum is trusted for it, but it’s now a lot easier. I’ve also seen a significant improvement in throughput. The cycle time is just over two and a half minutes, with the sample sizes as small as 0.5g. We can also auto load 30 samples at a time.

“We are now using the instrument to analyse any material where there is an interest in these elements. Understanding these types of elements and the proportions in which they are present is critical in understanding the performance and emissions from various fuels. Results are also included in calculations to determine net energy content [Net CV or Lower Heating Value].”

Materials the team can analyse include woodchip, pellets, biochars, coals, mineral samples, soils, sediments, fertilisers, and waste streams such as plastics, rubbers, and oils.

“In the past we have looked at paunch grass, DAF solids, peat, and plant waste from greenhouse growing operations as well as the more normal fuel materials. The Verum lab is a versatile operation and will do our best to analyse anything people want information on. Increasingly we are seeing referrals from other labs that are unable or unwilling to tackle different materials.”

More information

Interested in knowing more about our National Laboratory? Contact Mike Young - m.young@verumgroup.co.nz.