I am looking for a dedicated FT-IR instrument for oil analysis, and wonder if you guys have any recommendations for me? We have experience with a BioRad Oil Analyzer, but need to replace it soon.

A Perkin - Elmer made FTIR would be a better choise for you.

Regards,

Menon

We are in the same boat, our Bio-Rad is approaching replacement age. We bought a new laser and a few optical parts (beleive it or not, they are still available). We replace them ourselves as needed.

There is no choice for a dedicated Oil Analysis FTIR. Recommend you search for the Varian/Digilab/Bio-Rad unit. Digilab bought-out Bio-Rad, and Varian bought-out Digilab, (at least the Dedicated Oil Analysis FTIR Divisions).

While Perkin Elmer does make fine optics (remember the Hubbel telescope?), the new Varian is the winner in this shoot-out with the built-in Alarm Limits and compatibility with JOAP. Also, we suspect that any upcoming ASTM FTIR method will be centered around the JOAP analyzer, so you may gain that compatabillity as well inthe future. Note that Conostan makes a FTIR standard for this analyer, not for Perkin Elmer.

Andy S

Andy.

Thanks a lot. Nice to hear you are in the same boat.... Nothing lasts forever

Spectro inc offers a Bruker Optics JOAP compatible Oil Analyzer (FTIR):
http://www.spectroinc.com/products/SI_FTIR.html

Let me know what you evt. decide.

What should be the cost of oil analyzer (FTIR) in India or imported into India, is there any recurring expenditure in using this equipment?
Does this equipment give reliable results for the analysis of used engine oil and hydraulic oil both?

quote:

Originally posted by Prabhakar Agrawal:
What should be the cost of oil analyzer (FTIR) in India or imported into India, is there any recurring expenditure in using this equipment?
Does this equipment give reliable results for the analysis of used engine oil and hydraulic oil both?

You should contact the sales dep. in the different companies for the pricing questions. In our experience we have had some small problems with the laser component and we also have replaced the cell a couple of times the last 11 years. This I would consider as normal wear.

As a instrument for used oil analysis I would strongely recommend it. You may need some schooling to get the most of it, but if you decide for a dedicated Oil Analyzer it is usually easy.

The most usual analysis will detect Soot content, Additive deplition, Oxydation, Fuel contamination, Glycol, Nitration, and more

Thermo electron also offers a good FTIR used oil analyser ( Model nicolet 380 with Integra used oil analysis software). In India Micro Devices Metrohm Limited are the authorised distributors for Nicolet