Metrohm is offering a GBP4,900 discount on its Rancimat instruments for orders received before Christmas 2009.
Rancimat instruments can measure oxidation stability in edible fats and oils (743 Rancimat) and biodiesel and biodiesel/diesel blends (873 Rancimat).
All petrol and diesel that is sold at UK pumps now has to include at least 3.25 per cent biofuels.
The idea behind the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) is to reduce climate change emissions from transport - which produced more than a quarter of overall greenhouse gases in the UK - by using renewable fuels instead of fossil fuels.
These renewable fuels have been added to fuel sold around the country.
Biodiesel has a relatively short storage life as it is slowly oxidised by atmospheric oxygen.
The resulting oxidation products can damage vehicle motors.
For this reason, the oxidation stability is an important quality criterion for biodiesel and must therefore be checked regularly during manufacture and storage (according to EN 14112).
With the 873 Biodiesel Rancimat, this determination can be carried out simply and reliably, said Metrohm.
The latest revision of the oxidation stability standard is EN 15751 and will also include specifications of determining the stability in not only biodiesel but also blends of biodiesel and petrochemical diesel.
The modified Rancimat EN 15751 method will be an alternative to the 16-hour long EN 12205 sludge test specified in EN590.
Economic advantages for using the 743 Rancimat for determining the stability of edible fats and oils include intelligent warehouse management, quicker results than the traditional active oxygen method, as well as reduced cost and freeing up laboratory staff.
Typical applications include stability of nut oils, waxes, cereals, biscuits and vegetable oils.
