This study examines the combustion behavior of B4C/Bi2O3 pyrotechnic delay compositions as sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. Thermodynamic modeling and experimental testing were used to evaluate the influence of compaction pressure, particle size, and granule size on burning performance.Results showed that increased compaction reduced burning rates by lowering porosity and shifting combustion from convective to conductive mechanisms. Residue and gas analyses supported a multistage reaction pathway, demonstrating the potential of B4C/Bi2O3 formulations for environmentally improved pyrotechnic applications.<blockquote><h4>The original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964">Sustainable Pyrotechnics: Combustion Behavior of B4C/Bi2O3 for Delay Compositions</a></h4>Danillo F. Vianna Cantini, Vojtěch Pelikán*, Eva Schmidová, Jiří PachmanACS Omega 2026, 11, 3, 4668–4683<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964">https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964</a><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote>Selected sections from the article follow. Formats and hyperlinks were adapted from the original.<div>Pyrotechnic delay compositions are formulations designed to create a specific delay time, determined primarily by their burning rate. These compositions are essential in timing energetic events and are used extensively in both civilian and military applications. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(1)</a> This broad usage leads to diverse motivations for studying such materials. In civilian contexts, such as mining, the focus is typically on safety and cost-effectiveness. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(2)</a> For military purposes, reliability and precision are key factors, often with stringent performance requirements. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(3)</a>Pyrotechnic delay compositions are classified based on their combustion behavior into gassy or gasless types. In confined, sealed and obturated environments, gasless compositions are favored, to avoid gas buildup. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(1,4)</a> However, in unconfined or vented systems, gassy compositions are not problematic. For example, in fireworks, where combustion gases freely dissipate, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(1)</a> or in vented housings like hand grenades or signaling devices, gassy delays are acceptable. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(5,6)</a>In gassy compositions, the burning rate is influenced by the loading (or consolidation) pressure. Hot gases generated by the chemical reaction penetrate gas channels (voids) in the material, igniting unreacted material through a process known as convective heating. As loading pressure increases, these voids are gradually reduced, which diminishes convection and subsequently lowers the burning rate. In contrast, for gasless compositions, burning is driven by conductive heating, where heat is transferred through direct particle-to-particle contact, leading to the opposite effect. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(7−9)</a>Historically, up until World War II, black powder served as the foundation for most delay elements. Nowadays, it continues to be utilized for this function and others, but on smaller scales. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(1)</a> Some more recent and traditional formulations for pyrotechnic compositions include fuels like silicon, boron, tungsten, zinc, iron, zirconium, and manganese. Examples of these are Si/Pb3O4, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(8,10)</a> B/BaCrO4 <a href="javascript:void(0);">(8)</a>, W/BaCrO4/KClO4, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(5,6,11)</a> Zn/PbO2, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(12)</a> Fe/BaO2, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(13)</a> Zr/KClO4, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(8)</a> and Mn/PbCrO4/BaCrO4. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(14)</a>Currently, researchers are actively developing several new formulations for pyrotechnic delays. One of the main motivations for this is the need to transform these compositions into “greener” ones. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(1,2)</a> This means that compositions that could cause problems for the environment or human health should be avoided. To achieve this sustainability, the identification and replacement of known or potentially harmful, toxic, and carcinogenic compounds is vital. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(10)</a> Heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, toxic gases, volatile organic compounds and known causers of human health problems are examples of such substances to be removed. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(2,5,15)</a>Specifically, there are several attempts to replace lead, barium, chromates, and perchlorates. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(15)</a> The reason is that most of the established delay formulations used today contain these substances. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(2,5)</a> Lead, barium and chromium (contained in chromates) are heavy metals and are known to cause serious health problems in human, specially to nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(5,16)</a> Perchlorates are well-documented substances and are used in various pyrotechnic applications. However, they are widely recognized as contributors to thyroid issues. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(5)</a>From the above, it is clear that modern strategies in pyrotechnics are increasingly focused on developing new materials that prioritize both efficiency and sustainability. This shift imposes numerous restrictions, meaning that formulations must be designed with precise planning and thorough investigation to meet both performance and environmental standards.Boron could be considered the ideal fuel for pyrotechnic reactions due to its high energy content. However, it presents combustion issues for its limited reactivity due to boron oxide layer and boron agglomerates formation upon heating. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(17)</a> The boron oxide layer acts as a barrier, hindering oxygen (O) diffusion and consequently limiting the oxidation of boron. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(18)</a>Boron carbide (B4C) is a natural candidate for combustion processes due to its lower ignition point, which is attributed to its higher reactivity. This reactivity stems from the diffusion of carbon (C) particles, which oxidize into gaseous products. These gaseous products create diffusion channels that penetrate the boron oxide layer, breaking down the layer and agglomerates, thereby further improving the reaction. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(18,19)</a> B4C presents better combustion properties, with better burning stability and reliable self-propagation, resulting in better combustion efficiency. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(17)</a>Bismuth trioxide (Bi2O3) is an attractive oxidizer for pyrotechnic delay compositions due to several advantageous properties. Its high oxygen content and efficient oxygen release facilitate sustained combustion, while its favorable thermal properties, including a relatively low melting and decomposition temperature, ensure that oxygen is available at precisely the right moment to support a controlled reaction. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(20)</a> Additionally, Bi2O3 high density allows for compact formulations, promoting consistent and reliable burn rates. Also, it has a low heat of formation (approximately −582 kJ/mol), which is crucial to minimize the energy required to initiate its decomposition. This enhances the overall reaction efficiency, allowing Bi2O3 to rapidly release oxygen without consuming excessive energy, thus ensuring sustainable and stable combustion. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(8)</a>In addition to their technical advantages, Bi2O3 and B4C offer a significant environmental benefit: they are considered more eco-friendly compared to other materials commonly used in pyrotechnic compositions. Bi2O3 serves as a less toxic alternative to traditional oxidizers like lead-based compounds, reducing the risk of environmental contamination and exposure to harmful heavy metals. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(1,8,16)</a> Similarly, B4C contributes to cleaner combustion, producing fewer pollutants and minimizing the environmental impact. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(5)</a> This makes both materials not only effective but also greener choices for sustainable pyrotechnic applications.<h4>2. Experimental Section</h4><h5>2.8. Material Characterization</h5>Particle and granule size distribution were measured with a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 (Malvern Panalytical). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was carried out with a TESCAN MIRA (TESCAN) to examine morphology and confirm particle size. A 40 cm3 combustion chamber was used to analyze pressure profile, quantify solid residues, and collect combustion gases for further analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed using a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2392">Nicolet iS50 FT-IR</a> (Thermo Scientific) and standardized nitrogen (N2) background to identify gas-phase products. Thermal stability and water content assessments were conducted using TGA (NETZSCH TG 209 F3 Tarsus) and DSC (NETZSCH DSC 200 F3 Maia). Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) was performed using a Bruker Quantax 200 (Bruker) for semiquantitative chemical composition analysis of the combustion residues. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed using a Rigaku MiniFlex diffractometer for complementary phase identification, while surface chemical states were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) using a Scienta Omicron ESCA2SR system.<h4>3. Results and Discussion</h4><h5>3.7. FTIR Analysis of Combustion Gases</h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964#fig10">Figure 10</a> compares the FTIR spectra of combustion chamber gases from stoichiometric (blue) and fuel-rich (red) tests, highlighting CO and CO2 as the main species, consistent with Horiuchi. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(18)</a> Normalizing their absorbance to concentration using standard references yielded CO2/CO ratios of 0.67 (stoichiometric) and 0.34 (fuel-rich). However, a quantitative analysis is approximate and inherently imprecise, as potential contamination during gas collection and measurement could affect the results, given the challenge of maintaining a completely controlled internal atmosphere. A small fraction of hydrocarbon species (e.g., CH4, C2H4, and C2H2) was also identified in both samples.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ACS_Omega_2026_11_3_4668_4683_Figure_10_Comparative_FTIR_spectra_of_combustion_gas_compositions_in_a_combustion_chamber_ac7b7daf84.jpg" alt="ACS Omega 2026, 11, 3, 4668–4683: Figure 10. Comparative FTIR spectra of combustion gas compositions in a combustion chamber." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ACS_Omega_2026_11_3_4668_4683_Figure_10_Comparative_FTIR_spectra_of_combustion_gas_compositions_in_a_combustion_chamber_ac7b7daf84.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1956" height="989">While experimental results indicate a higher CO2 presence than predicted, the overall trend aligns with expectations─higher fuel content shifts combustion products toward less oxidized species. Notably, the identified gaseous products are relatively simple and exhibit low toxicity compared to halogenated or metal-containing species commonly found in traditional pyrotechnic formulations, supporting the potential of this system as a more environmentally friendly alternative.Since the reaction involves both condensed-phase reactants and products, characterizing the solid residues is essential to evaluate the extent of reaction and gain insight into the actual progression of the reaction pathway. For this, SEM imaging and EDS analysis were employed to investigate the morphology and elemental composition of the combustion residues.<h5>3.8. SEM and EDS of Burning Residues</h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964#fig11">Figure 11</a> presents the SEM analysis of solid residues from the combustion of B4. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964/suppl_file/ao5c10964_si_001.pdf">Figure S5</a> exhibits images of the other samples. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964#fig11">Figure 11</a>a shows the top view of the burned delay element, revealing the distribution of residues across the surface, while <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964#fig11">Figure 11</a>b provides a magnified view of a region rich in bright spherical structures. These spheres are likely bismuth that transitioned through a liquid or gaseous phase during the reaction and solidified upon cooling. This phenomenon of spherical formation due to phase transition is well-documented in the literature. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(33)</a><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ACS_Omega_2026_11_3_4668_4683_Figure_11_SEM_analysis_of_B4_after_burning_8fc7a8f520.jpg" alt="ACS Omega 2026, 11, 3, 4668–4683: Figure 11. SEM analysis of B4 after burning: (a) top view (50 ×) of the burned delay element showing the distribution of solid residues across the surface; (b) magnified view (1 k×) of a region rich in bright spherical structures." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ACS_Omega_2026_11_3_4668_4683_Figure_11_SEM_analysis_of_B4_after_burning_8fc7a8f520.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="2092" height="831"><h5>3.10. Surface Chemistry of Combustion Residues (XPS)</h5>Survey spectrum scans identified the main photoelectron lines corresponding to carbon, oxygen, boron, and bismuth. High-resolution scans for the O 1s, C 1s, B 1s, and Bi 4f regions of B4 are presented in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.5c10964#fig19">Figure 19</a>, allowing detailed peak deconvolution and chemical assignment.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ACS_Omega_2026_11_3_4668_4683_Figure_19_XPS_high_resolution_spectra_of_O_1s_C_1s_B_1s_and_Bi_4f_regions_for_B4_5c6064d013.jpg" alt="ACS Omega 2026, 11, 3, 4668–4683: Figure 19. XPS high-resolution spectra of O 1s, C 1s, B 1s, and Bi 4f regions for B4." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ACS_Omega_2026_11_3_4668_4683_Figure_19_XPS_high_resolution_spectra_of_O_1s_C_1s_B_1s_and_Bi_4f_regions_for_B4_5c6064d013.jpg 214w," sizes="100vw" width="2049" height="1498">The analysis confirmed B2O3 as a major surface product and indicated the presence of unreacted B4C in the B4 sample through B–C bonds. sp2 carbon was also detected in B4, suggesting possible graphite formation, as predicted in thermodynamic calculations. A2 showed more Bi3+ than B4, supporting that the stoichiometric composition had more residual Bi2O3, while the fuel-rich B4 sample promoted greater reduction to Bi0. The presence of Bi3+ on the surface observed may result from postcombustion reoxidation of Bi0. These results reinforce the proposed reaction pathway and the role of fuel excess in enhancing reaction completeness. In this analysis, the B 1s spectrum further confirms the absence of BN by the lack of B–N peaks, consistent with the EDS results, which also revealed no detectable nitrogen signal.All experimental findings contribute to the fundamental understanding of boron carbide and bismuth oxide reactions under both basic and applied conditions, particularly in delay compositions. These results provide new insights into the reaction pathway and the underlying combustion mechanism.<h4>4. Conclusions</h4>Stoichiometric formulations of B4C/Bi2O3, which ignited when not pressed, failed to burn after being lightly compacted; a fuel-rich composition is necessary to ensure combustion. The fuel-rich compositions ignited readily and maintained combustion without quenching. Water facilitated the granulation process and improved the final composition. With increasing loading pressure, burning rates decrease due to reduced convective heat transfer, leading the combustion process to transition toward a conductive regime. Particle size also impacted combustion, particularly with larger Bi2O3 particles, which influenced the combustion profile up to a certain threshold. Additionally, the granule size of the final composition was found to alter the burning behavior, with larger granules promoting faster combustion at lower pressures.Thermodynamic calculations provided an initial insight into the reaction process. The findings show that the reaction progresses through distinct stages: starting in a solid–solid preignition phase, transitioning to a solid–liquid phase as components melt, and culminating in a gas phase marked by significant product volatilization, illustrating a complete combustion evolution.FTIR analysis confirmed that the main gaseous products are CO and CO2, indicating reduced environmental toxicity. Elemental and phase analyses confirmed that the reaction followed the expected pathway, with Bi and B2O3 as the predominant products. No Bi2O3 was detected by XRD, indicating that the oxidizer was fully consumed in the bulk. Morphological analysis of the products suggests that, upon cooling, bismuth solidifies into small metallic spheres, while surface analysis indicates that B2O3 remains predominantly in the outer layer. Altogether, the results are consistent and complementary, reinforcing the reliability and scientific rigor of the study.All these observations accentuate the necessity of conducting experiments under application-specific conditions. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the combustion dynamics of low toxicity B4C/Bi2O3 mixtures but also underscore their potential for practical applications requiring precise delay times and environmental sustainability. The successful use of water as a green solvent further highlights the viability of developing sustainable pyrotechnic compositions. This research advances the field by providing valuable insights into optimizing performance while minimizing environmental impact through careful material selection and process control.</div>

Sustainable Pyrotechnics: Combustion Behavior of B4C/Bi2O3 for Delay Compositions

In the week from May 11, the following webinars await you in the field of atomic and molecular spectroscopy and spectrometry<blockquote><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinars">👉 DETAILS AND REGISTRATION IN THE WEBINARS SECTION</a></h4>👉 Search and filter in the largest global database with over 5 500 GC, LC, MS and spectroscopy webinars.</blockquote><h5>1. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Uncovering Microplastics: Identification, Quantification, and Exposure Assessment</h5><ul><li>Tu, 12.5.2026 08:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6136">Registration</a></li></ul>In this webinar, we will explore complementary analytical solutions for comprehensive microplastics characterization.<h5>2. SPECTRO Analytical Instruments: Elemental Analysis of Superalloys: Ensuring Performance in Extreme Applications</h5><ul><li>Tu, 12.5.2026 10:30 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6170">Registration</a></li></ul>Learn how accurate elemental analysis ensures superalloy performance, with OES and XRF solutions for reliable quality control from lab to field.<h5>3. Agilent Technologies: What have you been smoking? Elemental Analysis in Cannabis and Cannabis Products with ICP-MS</h5><ul><li>Tu, 12.5.2026 20:30 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6063">Registration</a></li></ul>Learn how automated calibration and dilution streamline ICP-MS food testing workflows, improving accuracy, traceability, and productivity while addressing rare-earth doubly charged interferences.<h5>4. AZoM: Faster REE Exploration Decisions with XRF Technology Explained</h5><ul><li>We, 13.5.2026 16:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6195">Registration</a></li></ul>Join the webinar to see how handheld XRF provides a significant advantage in today's fast-paced REE landscape.<h5>5. Bruker: Advancing Industrial Metrology Automation with Bruker's Dimension AFMs</h5><ul><li>We, 13.5.2026 17:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6172">Registration</a></li></ul>This webinar will explore how Dimension AFM platforms support increasing levels of automation, from scripted measurements to data-driven control.<h5>6. Anton Paar: Polymer Rheology: Impact of Humidity on Material Behavior</h5><ul><li>We, 13.5.2026 18:00 CET</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/5801">Registration</a></li></ul>Discover how humidity impacts polymers and soft materials. Learn how moisture alters rheology, tackiness, curing, and flowability through real case studies across films, adhesives, foods, and powders.<h5>7. LECO: TOC Determination in Soil and Waste</h5><ul><li>Th, 14.5.2026 14:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6038">Registration</a></li></ul>Join this webinar to explore modern methods for TOC determination in soils and waste. Learn how standardized approaches, instrumentation, and method selection influence data quality and regulatory compliance.

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Routine chemical analysis typically involves several steps, e.g. selection of procedure, sampling, sample preparation, measurement, result calculation, uncertainty estimation, and reporting to customer. Based on the result, important decisions and actions are taken. The steps before and after the measurement are often referred to as “pre- and post-analytical”. There are many sources of uncertainty associated with this work, some of which can actually limit the overall quality.&nbsp;Proficiency testing (PT) and external quality assessment (EQA) schemes are effective means of assessing the quality of routine analyses. However, if there are specific procedures, either before or after the measurement, which are applied to the routine samples, but not to the PT test sample, the result reflects only the quality of part of the measurement process. Pre- and post-analytical PT/ EQA schemes are already widely used in laboratory medicine. The standard ISO 15189, that underpins accreditation of medical laboratories, stresses that EQA schemes should “... have the effect of checking the entire process including pre- and post-examination procedures ...”&nbsp;The examples in this leaflet illustrate the potential and importance of pre- and post-analytical PT/EQA. They are intended as an inspiration for the providers to further develop their external quality control activities.<h4>Pre- and post-analytical PT/EQA – a means for harmonisation&nbsp;</h4>By illustrating, e.g. lack of adherence to guidelines, or variation in sample preparation, or inconsistency in interpretation, pre- and post-analytical PT/EQA schemes pinpoint problems not apparent in other schemes. This may lead to improved harmonisation and changes to guidelines and standards.<h4>Example 1: Interpreting clinical chemistry information&nbsp;</h4>Patient background information together with analytical results can be used to check agreement of interpretational advice given by medical doctors. This type of scheme can, therefore, include both pre- and post-analytical aspects. The provider, e.g. through an expert group, ranks the quality of participants’ response and suggestions, and presents them in the report with comments.<h4>Example 2: Sampling requests in microbiology&nbsp;</h4>Using the scenario of food poisoning, pre- &amp; post-analytical aspects of sampling requests in a microbiology scheme can be highlighted. The provider gives information about food type, symptoms, and incubation time with a simulated sample. Participants choose which organism(s) to test for. The associated laboratory work involves examination of samples, report on method(s) of choice and results. Participants could, e.g. be asked to specify which toxins or pathogens are likely to cause the food poisoning and state whether or not they will disseminate information, e.g. to hospitals or food suppliers. The feedback report would then show the results of each participant together with the comments of the provider.&nbsp;<h4>Example 3: Toy testing&nbsp;</h4>Faulty design, usage and chance play a role in injury and death incidents related to children’s toys. Toy safety is the practice of ensuring that toys are safe, usually through the application of set safety standards. The PT provider sources a toy, performs visual assessment of its homogeneity, and distributes the samples. Participants are requested to assess the toy against the European standard EN 71 and they have to decide which clauses of the standard apply. The clauses chosen define the test(s) to be carried out. The feedback report will contain a “model answer” including clauses, tests and labeling requirements (when applicable).&nbsp;<h4>Example 4: Monitoring drinking water quality&nbsp;</h4>A post-analytical application can be underpinned by legislation and national regulations (Directive 98/83/EC). Participants receive a synthetic drinking water sample with properties close to one or more limiting values. They are requested to deliver results, uncertainties and a “pass/fail” recommendation to the customer. The recommendations of the provider are listed in the feedback report for educational purposes. Information can be fed back also to regulators to serve, e.g. as basis for further discussions.&nbsp;<blockquote><h5>More information / further reading&nbsp;</h5>Information about PT providers and schemes can be obtained from your national accreditation body, from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.eptis.org/">EPTIS website</a> or from other national or international organisations.</blockquote>

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This webinar describes a comprehensive approach to analyzing sugar, confectionary products, and chocolate utilizing bench-top instruments, inline sensors and fully automated sugar analysis platforms, gathering valuable data that can be used for statistical process control and automation.The involved technologies are polarimetry, refractive index, density, concentration, oxidation stability, viscosity, texture, tribology, and sample preparation for heavy metal analysis as part of Food Safety programs.<div><div><blockquote>Presenter: Helga GschwindHelga Gschwind is a Market Development Manager with Anton Paar USA focused on developing new markets for analytical, process and quality control instrumentation within the food industry. She received her engineering degree in food science from the National University of Lujan, Argentina and has worked for over 20 years in the food and beverage industry in quality, production, and engineering areas.</blockquote></div></div>

Anton Paar: How Sweet It Is: Innovations and Automation in Sugar and Chocolate Analysis

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Production of animal food is just as complex, costly and time-consuming as producing food for human consumption as the demand for safe, high-quality and nutritious animal foods has grown. Extrusion is the most widely used process for R&amp;D, formulation development and production of new animal foods.This webinar will introduce both single and twin-screw extrusion techniques for lab-scale animal food production. Additionally, ensuring consistent quality over the different production stages can be accomplished by controlling critical physio-chemical parameters of food ingredients such as moisture, refractive index, viscosity, density, oxidation stability and shelf-life.&nbsp;<div><div><blockquote>Presenter: Helga GschwindHelga Gschwind is a Market Development Manager with Anton Paar USA focused on developing new markets for analytical, process and quality control instrumentation within the food industry. She received her engineering degree in food science from the National University of Lujan, Argentina and has worked for over 20 years in the food and beverage industry in quality, production, and engineering areas.Presenter:&nbsp;Debomitra DeyDebomitra Dey is an Advanced Application Scientist with Anton Paar Inc., USA. Specializing in extrusion processing applications for snacks, meat analogs, and pet food, she loves diving into the creative challenges of her work. With a background spanning industry and academia, Debomitra thrives on collaboration, working closely with partners to innovate and excel. Before joining Anton Paar, she worked as a Food Extrusion Specialist with CW Brabender Instruments, Inc. NJ. She earned her Ph.D. in Food Science from Washington State University.</blockquote></div></div>

Anton Paar: Optimizing Animal Feed Production: Mixing, Extrusion, Texture, and Tribology

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Fundamentals of Fast and Efficient Moisture Content Analysis with a Halogen Moisture AnalyzerProgram:<ul><li>The definition of moisture</li><li>Different methods for moisture analysis</li><li>Comparison of a drying oven and a halogen moisture analyzer</li><li>How to prepare samples for moisture analysis correctly</li><li>Method development to match results from the drying oven</li><li>Routine testing for moisture analyzers</li></ul>Moisture content affects the processability, shelf life, usability and quality of a product. Accurate moisture content determination therefore plays a key role in ensuring quality in many industries including Food, Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals. Furthermore, the maximum permissible moisture content in certain products may be legally regulated (e.g., national food regulations).&nbsp;Watch our webinar on the basics of moisture determination and learn how to achieve reliable moisture results with a halogen moisture analyzer.<blockquote>Presenter: Annika Joss (METTLER TOLEDO)Presenter:&nbsp;Andrea Mühleis (METTLER TOLEDO)</blockquote>

Mettler Toledo: Basics of Moisture Determination 

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Watch our webinar on the basics of moisture determination and learn how to achieve reliable moisture results with a halogen moisture analyzer.

Join us to learn more about Anton Paar's innovative solutions to the challenges of measuring acids and bases. In this one-hour webinar, we'll introduce you to our cutting-edge technologies and practical tools that will help you optimize your analyses and ensure reliable, accurate results.&nbsp;Whether you're a laboratory or production professional, this webinar will provide you with expert advice and concrete application examples from a variety of industrial sectors. Don't miss this opportunity to find out how our solutions can improve your day-to-day work!<ul><li>Laboratory instrumentation</li><li>Portable instrumentation</li><li>Process instrumentation</li></ul>A basic knowledge of the chemical industry and in acids and bases is useful but not essential.<blockquote>Presenter: &nbsp;Nicolas Ogez-PaulNicolas Ogez-Paul started his career as a chemist in organic chemistry research and development. After five years with a company specializing in sample preparation, synthesis and purification of organic compounds as Sales Manager for France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, Nicolas Ogez-Paul joined Anton Paar Switzerland in 2016. Initially responsible for the sales of density, refractive index, polarimetry, viscosity, flashpoint and oxidation testers, in-line measurement for French-speaking Switzerland and mineralization and synthesis microwaves for the Western part of Switzerland, he progressed internally to his current position as Team Leader of Anton Paar Switzerland's «Measurement» division and Microwave Sales Manager for the whole of Switzerland.Presenter:&nbsp; Marc NispleMarc Nisple holds a Master’s degree in food chemistry and food process engineering by the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and has 10 years of professional working experience in the industry of analytical instruments as R&amp;D Chemist, Application Specialist and Laboratory Manager. He has been working as Product Specialist at Anton Paar Switzerland since 2019. &nbsp;</blockquote>

Anton Paar: Explore All our Innovative Solutions for Acid and Base Measurement

Explore All our Innovative Solutions for Acid and Base Measurement

Join us to learn more about Anton Paar's innovative solutions to the challenges of measuring acids and bases

Innovative Solutions for Acid and Base Measurement

Higher Quality and Greater ProductivityThe impact pH has on food quality and safety is significant. For decades, food producers have used the pH value determined by sampling, to check the progress of production processes. However, a sample only provides an insight into production at the time it was taken. In addition, significant labor and time are involved in taking and analyzing samples.In this webinar, the presenter will show that it is not only the labor and effort in lab determination of pH that can be issues; opportunities to react timely to incorrect operations can be missed, and undesirable microorganism activity and the accidental dosing of CIP detergents can be spotted late. Such event leads to time-consuming and costly efforts for correction.We will look at how the continuous monitoring of pH with in-line sensors can avoid all these issues, and the positive impact real-time pH data can have on product quality, production costs, process safety, and production planning.In-line measurement of pH in food and beverage processing has been hampered by the fragility of glass pH sensors. We will present a new, unbreakable pH sensor that provides the accuracy and speed of response of glass pH sensors, opening up opportunities to measure in-line with safe and easy-to-handle technology, and improve dairy processing. The sensor's properties in operation and during CIP will also be discussed.Program:&nbsp;<ul><li>The impact of pH on dairy production</li><li>Issues with lab pH measurement</li><li>The value of continuous pH data</li><li>How the latest pH measurement systems can improve dairy processing</li></ul>4. 2. 2025 9:00, CET 4. 2. 2025 16:00, CET &nbsp;<blockquote>Presenter: Holger Schmidt (Mettler Toledo)Holger Schmidt backs up his practical know-how as brewer and malster with a brewmaster degree from TUM Weihenstephan. For two decades he has been globally mediating the triangle between Food and Beverage producers, plant and machine builders, and automation companies, with a focus on hygienic sensor technologies.&nbsp;</blockquote>

Mettler Toledo: Improve Dairy Processing 

Improve Dairy Processing 

The impact of pH on dairy production, issues with lab pH measurement and how the latest pH measurement systems can improve dairy processing.

In the pharmaceutical industry, all starting materials and the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of a drug product must be subjected to analytical identity (ID) testing as part of the release prior to their introduction into the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. For quality control laboratories in general—and particularly for a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) handling a wide variety of materials—it is preferable to perform ID tests using a simple, fast, highly specific analytical method. This preference also applies to oligonucleotides, an emerging class of APIs, where a combined ID testing strategy should be applied, including intact mass determination and a sequence-specific method.After a short introduction to oligonucleotides, this webinar will focus on the sequence-specific method and provide a deep dive into the UV-spectrometric determination of the oligonucleotide melting temperature (Tm) using the Agilent Cary 3500 UV-Vis.Key Learning Objectives:<ul><li>Recognize the fundamentals of oligonucleotide melting temperature analysis</li><li>Identify analytical characteristics, potential pitfalls, and how to avoid them</li><li>Learn how the multicell peltier module add-on helps increase efficiency by collecting multiple samples simultaneously</li><li>Understand how an in-cuvette temperature probe with built-in magnetic stirrers improves data quality</li><li>Learn about software built-in features such as smoothing and derivative that can enhance data quality</li></ul>Who Should Attend:<ul><li>Analytical scientists and technicians interested in UV-Vis technologies</li><li>Researchers in oligonucleotides fields</li><li>Quality control specialists for ID testing</li><li>Laboratory managers interested in analytical innovations</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Alexandra H. Heussner, PhD (Laboratory Manager, Analytical Science Laboratory, Vetter Pharma)Presenter: Ann Thayer (Contributing Editor, C&amp;EN Media Group)</blockquote>

C&EN: Advanced Analytical Methods for Oligonucleotide ID Testing in Pharmaceuticals QC

Advanced Analytical Methods for Oligonucleotide ID Testing in Pharmaceuticals QC

This webinar covers oligonucleotides, sequence-specific methods, and UV-spectrometric Tm determination using the Agilent Cary 3500 UV-Vis.

Advanced Oligonucleotide ID Testing for Pharma QC

Moisture determination in milk and milk products is crucial for ensuring product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance, as it affects texture, taste, and microbial stability. The moisture content in the products is used in calculating total solids for assessing product purity, yield, and consistency. Calculating dry basis results are vital for accurate constituent analysis, providing a standardized measure for comparing different products with varying moisture contents.&nbsp;Join us for an engaging discussion by Michael Jakob (LECO Sales, Germany) on Moisture Determination using the LECO TGM800.<blockquote>Presenter: Michael Jakob (LECO European Product Manager)</blockquote>

LECO: Protein Done Right with LECO - 1 Method, 1 Calibration, 1 Speed ... Fast 

Moisture Determination in Dairy and Liquid Dairy Products

Join us for an engaging discussion on Moisture Determination using the LECO TGM800.

<h4>The Problem:</h4>Buffer exchange and concentration of biologic samples can be time-consuming and frustrating, even with a small number of samples. Achieving precise targets often requires repeated adjustments, costing valuable time and focus.<h4>The Solution:</h4>Unagi is the first fully hands-free benchtop solution for buffer exchange and sample concentration. It automates all the tedious steps typically required, letting you process up to 8 samples at once with starting volumes from 0.5 to 8 mL. With intuitive software and precise process control, Unagi ensures you consistently hit your exchange and concentration targets — with recoveries of 96% or higher.<h4>The Proof:</h4>Join us to see just how easy it is to run buffer exchange or concentration workflows on Unagi. We’ll demonstrate the process using real biologic samples and show how Unagi delivers accurate, consistent results for proteins and mAbs.<blockquote>Presenter: Nelis Denys (Product Manager, Unagi, Unchained Labs)Moderator: Ross Walton, PhD (Sr. Applications Scientist, Unchained Labs)</blockquote>

Unchained Labs: Change it up with hands-free buffer exchange on Unagi

Change it up with hands-free buffer exchange on Unagi

Unagi automates buffer exchange and concentration for biologics—hands-free, fast, and accurate with ≥96% recovery. See it in action in this webinar.

Testing stability of your proteins and formulations can feel like being buried alive when screening boat loads of candidates and conditions. Most classic tools are either inflexible, one-hit wonders that don’t give the full stability picture or seriously low-throughput, creating major bottlenecks that eat up valuable time you need for everything else you’ve got to get done, like yesterday.Aunty is the fastest and highest throughput protein stability characterization tool on the planet. Load up to 96 of your samples into its plate and Aunty will power through piles of thermal melting and aggregation experiments at unmatched speeds - reading fluorescence, SLS and DLS of the whole plate every minute of a thermal ramp. Screen gobs of candidates and conditions with as many replicates as you want. Aunty busts out plates of results with unprecedented speed and data resolution.Join this webinar to see how to set up and run an Aunty experiment. Get a walk-through of Aunty’s data analysis of &nbsp;Tm &amp; Tagg and colloidal stability experiments and get a peek at the highest resolution stability data you’ve ever seen.<blockquote>Presenter: Andre Mueller, PhD (Marketing Manager, Biologic Solutions, Unchained Labs)Andre Mueller, PhD, is the Product Manager for Aunty and Honeybun at Unchained Labs, where he supports the development of biologic and gene therapy drugs. He specializes in fluorescence, static and dynamic light scattering, focusing on biophysical characterization of proteins and viral vectors. His research background spans from structural biology to plant physiology, with experience in labs across Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and the USA. Andre earned his PhD at the Carlsberg Laboratory and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University.Moderator: Ross Walton, PhD (Sr. Applications Scientist, Unchained Labs)</blockquote>

Unchained Labs: Meet Aunty, the Queen of high-throughput protein stability characterization

Meet Aunty, the Queen of high-throughput protein stability characterization

Join this webinar to see how to set up and run an Aunty experiment.

Aunty - high-throughput protein stability characterization

<h5>The Problem</h5>Liposomes, the phospholipid based nanocarriers, are a versatile and clinically proven delivery technology for a huge range of drugs, from proteins to small molecules, both hydrophobic and hydrophilic. Unfortunately, traditional methods of manufacturing are slow and inefficient. Even when working with more modern microfluidic methods, you’re racking up tons of wasted time, material, and costs.<h5>The Solution</h5>Sunshine brings the precision, scalability and reproducibility of microfluidics and combines it with experimental automation. This gives access to rapid screens of process conditions such as total flow rate and flow rate ratio with minimal user intervention - all while using small sample sizes and reusable microfluidics to help you save precious sample, time and cut back on costs.<h5>The Proof</h5>In this seminar, we’ll go over the basics of liposome formulation, then dive into the data, showing how Sunshine can be used to make a range of liposomal formulations. We’ll be investigating the effects of changing formulations on particle properties and encapsulation efficiencies. So come along to see how quick and seamless liposomal screening and manufacturing can be with Sunshine.<blockquote>Presenter: Ben Knappett (Product Manager - Sunny Suite, Unchained Labs)Presenter:&nbsp;Alex Kerr (Senior Applications Scientist, Unchained Labs)</blockquote>

Unchained Labs: Make light work of liposomal development and optimization with Sunshine

Make light work of liposomal development and optimization with Sunshine

Discover how Sunshine automates and accelerates liposome formulation using microfluidics—fast screening, minimal waste, and high reproducibility.

ICPMS webinars focusing on Measurement of physical quantities - page 4