Our company has a fully equipped chemistry lab and also extensive experience mainly for the analysis of precious and base metals of any form.
We use non-destructive methods such as XRF ED and WD material analyzer as well as chemical analysis by cupellation, melting, gravimetric analysis, ion chromatography, ICP-OES, titration etc. Depending on the data and the complexity of each sample, our company is ready to cope by providing the best possible result.
Quality analysis
Once we have our sample we can start with a quick analysis / estimation using a ED-XRF or WD-XRF analyzer, in order to identify the elements contained in it (quality analysis) and in what content (semi-quantitative)
Quantitative analysis
Once we have the first assessment and identification of the elements that are consistent with the elements we want to analyze in our sample, we select the appropriate methodology and begin our normal “regular” (quantitative) analysis.
Our company can run quite complex analyses from a wide range of samples and send you detailed reports that will show the whole process that was done to properly identify the data. The results are usually given in format per thousand (‰) and we can identify results in ppm (Parts Per Million).
We can analyze samples in:
Liquid form
Liquids are divided into two major categories of Alkaline and Acid solutions while solutions with Neutral pH have few applications. Common categories to be analyzed are plating solutions such as:
- Alkaline Cyanides with Gold (Au), Gold & Copper (pink plating Au + Cu) or Silver (Ag)
- Acid Liquids with Rhodium, Platinum or Palladium
- Solutions of iridium chloride, tetrachloroauric acid, sodium tetrachloropalladate, palladium nitrate, chloroplatinic acid (CPA), platinum nitrate, rhodium chloride, rhodium nitrate, silver chloride, gold chloride, etc.
- Sulfide Solutions from the “whitening” of jewelry.
- Copper or Silver Sulfide
- Silver Nitrate
- Colloidal Silver
- Fluid Waste from radiological printing (Fixer, Developer and Waste Water) and Photobooth Imaging Fluids
Dust / Powder
This category includes all materials that can and must be broken down into powder in order to be analyzed.
- Residues from Gold and Silver smithing ( )
- Funnels and Handles (Slags) from the melting of metals
- Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Acid or Petrochemical Catalysts based on Alumina, Silicon Carbide (SiC), Zeolite, Coal etc. and contain basic metals such as Copper, Zinc, Cobalt and / or Molybdenum (CoMo catalysts) and PGMs such as Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Iridium etc.
- Gold Plated and Silver Plated Ceramics
Sludges / Salts / Crystals / Pastes
The salts are in powder form but the difference is that they have a specific metallic composition. Some basic salts for analysis are:
- Cyanide Salts of Gold and / or Silver
- Hydrogen chloride gold, iridium chloride, palladium chloride, Sodium tetrachloride, Potassium tetrachloride, Palladium nitrate hydrate, Chloroplatinic acid, Platinum dichloride, Platinum tetrachloride, Rhodium chloride, Nitric chloride
- Silver Nitrate in crystallic form
- Paste of Silver, Silver – Palladium, Platinum and Gold
- Basic metal hydroxides from waste precipitation
- Sludges from the evaporation of liquid waste
- Metal Powder (usually from atomization production residues)
- Filters and Columns of Metal Ion Exchange used for the treatment of liquid waste
Metallic Form – Alloys
Our company can analyze anything from the purest elements to the most complex alloys with accuracy measued in ppm. Some basic categories of metals to analyze are:
- Gold alloys depending on the carats 22K, 18K, 14K, 9K and 8K
- Silver Alloys with grades 925, 900 and 800 Sterling
- Plated Jewelry with any base (eg silver, copper, bronze, steel, alpaca or zamak) and plating (e.g. gold, silver and platinum-plated).
- Gold and Silver Plated Electronic or Electrical Boards and general equipment
- Bimetallic based on aluminum, copper or bronze etc
- Galvanoplasty items
- Dental Alloys
- Silver Amalgam Dental Alloy with Tin and Copper (Ag-Sn and Ag-Sn-Cu)
- Palladium Dental Alloys from crowns and bridges
- Gold alloys usually 22K
- Tin or Silver solder
- Platinum laboratory materials such as platinum capsules (Pt Laboratory Instruments)
- Silver, Palladium, Gold contacts from Relays
