NIA works exclusively with Chembiotech Laboratories (CL) for all its R&D and QA analysis requirements.
R&D Resources & Capabilities
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Physical Properties
Chembiotech Laboratories (CL) utilise a variety of analytical techniques for both routine analysis and more advanced R&D projects for clients, particularly in areas of new product development, product quality control (QC), and product property modification and troubleshooting. Regularly employed techniques include:
CL also has regular access to a number of other high-power techniques, including Gas Chromatography (GC), Mass Spectrometry (MS), GC-MS, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDXA), etc.
CL also has a computer-controlled Fibre Rig for the wet-spinning of polysaccharide-based fibres.
Listed below are some examples of the types of analyses performed by CL using such equipment/techniques:
CL use a combination of flow, creep and oscillation measurements to determine and compare/contrast the viscoelastic characteristics of raw/modified biomaterials and products.
Flow tests are routinely performed in order to ascertain differences in zero shear viscosity and shear thinning, which can be related to molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Such techniques can provide a lot of information with respect to the physical properties of gel materials, such as comparing the gelatinisation profiles of starches of different botanical origin. CL utilise a TA Instruments controlled stress rheometer equipped with a variety of different size cone and flat plate geometries.
Texture analysis is utilised by CL for the comparative, quantifiable and reproducible assessment of a number of different material/product properties. CL utilises a Stable Micro Systems Texture Analyser, which is effectively a calibrated force probe that measures the force required to perform various activities. This is a very versatile instrument when equipped with a number of probes and attachments for testing specific parameters or types of materials. For example the hardness index of a wide range of materials can be determined by penetration test using conical and finger probes. hesion rig), Also the extrusion properties of viscous raw material solutions and products using forward and backward extrusion attachments.
Elucidation of chemical functionality is routinely performed on a wide range of materials (both natural and synthetic) by FT-IR spectroscopic analysis. CL utilises a Nicolet FT-IR spectrometer equipped with an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) sampling accessory, which permits direct analysis of solid and liquid samples. CL specifically utilise FT-IR spectroscopic analysis for carbohydrate derivative characterisation, were spectra peak height and peak area measurements can be used to facilitate degree of substitution (DS) determination for selected chemical functionalities.
CL regularly employ the use of colorimetric/ spectrophotometric assays for the determination of specific classes of material and colour measurement.