Exeter Analytical has developed a reliable analytical method for accurately determining the percentage Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Nitrogen (N) content of polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs).

Polyfluorinated compounds are extremely thermally and chemically stable and have soil, water and fat-repellent properties. They are nearly non-biodegradable and accumulate in the environment and the food chain. Due to their specific technical characteristics - polyfluorinated compounds are used in quite a number of products such as in textiles, carpets, cosmetics, paper, packaging materials as well as in general in the chemical synthesis, metallation, photo and semi-conductor industries.

Generally compounds containing fluorine can be successfully analysed for percentage CHN content on an elemental microanalysis system under standard operating conditions. The magnesium oxide in the combustion tube reagent packing absorbs fluorine as HF, and releases the hydrogen. However, polyfluorinated samples, which are often difficult to combust, can give incorrect low carbon and high nitrogen data.

For these highly fluorinated compounds, Exeter Analytical have developed a new reliable analytical method based upon their Model 440 Elemental Analyser that is described in Application Note 217.

For a copy of application note 217 please visit www.exeteranalytical.co.uk/ce440_notes.htm or contact Exeter Analytical on +44-2476-323223 / +1-978-251-1411 or email info@exeteranalytical.co.uk / sales@eai1.com.

Benefiting from a horizontal furnace design, the Exeter Analytical Model 440, allows analysts to routinely and simply produce accurate and precise data on wide ranging sample types without system re-optimisation, saving precious time and reducing running costs. 

Exeter Analytical is a company dedicated to elemental analysis. Through many years of continuous investment in applications development and customers feedback, the Exeter Model 440 CHN Elemental Analyser, with its unique horizontal furnace design, is widely viewed to be the most accurate and precise analysers available on the market today, with the broadest range of sample applications.