One of the world's leading independent laboratories uses Carbolite furnaces for a wide variety of analytical procedures and applications
Alfred H Knight International, one of the world's leading independent laboratories specialising in metals and minerals analysis for the mining and refining industry, uses Carbolite furnaces for a wide variety of analytical procedures and applications within its ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory.
The laboratory at the company's St Helens head office provides a comprehensive analytical service for minerals and ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Some 100 scientists, chemists and laboratory technicians employ a combination of traditional chemical techniques and the most modern instrumental procedures to produce accurate results quickly and efficiently for commercial transactions in the metal commodity market.
For the classical fire assay analysis of precious metals the laboratory uses six Carbolite cupellation furnaces, regarded as one of the leading furnace designs for this application.
More recently eight ashing furnaces were supplied for loss-on-ignition analysis of precious metal bearing catalyst commodities and routine analytical calcination procedures.
These furnaces have calibration ports in the front door mechanism to supplement temperature calibration for optimum temperature quality control, as required for British Ukas accredited laboratories.
Carbolite AAF furnaces are designed for a wide variety of uses in a laboratory environment and are successfully used for ashing food, animal fats and natural fibres, as well as materials such as plastics, coal and other hydrocarbons that generate aggressive fumes requiring extraction. Models are available in three sizes, all with a maximum temperature of 11,000C.
The air passing through an AAF furnace is pre-heated to ensure optimum temperature uniformity throughout the chamber.
High regulated airflows help to remove fumes effectively, with large furnace chambers allowing many samples to be processed at a time.
The GSM model, which has a fused quartz chamber, has been developed for procedures where a dust-free environment is particularly important.
The design of this model also protects the elements from harmful vapours and minimises leakage if gases are used.
