¹H NMR & ³¹P NMR
Compare chemical signatures and component profiles between the benchmark degreaser and purchased raw materials.
FindingThe spectra provided a basis for distinguishing chemical features and component-profile differences.
Alkaline Degreaser: Raw Material Mismatch Identification
Competitor-product analysis and raw-material comparison identified a chemical-grade mismatch that prevented an alkaline degreaser trial from reaching target cleaning performance.
Project context
Background and technical challenge.
A manufacturer wanted to analyse a competitor alkaline degreaser and develop a comparable product for internal production. Multiple formulation trials fell short of the expected cleaning performance.
The challenge
The customer needed to determine whether the performance gap came from the benchmark product formulation or from the raw materials being used in its own trials, before spending further time on blind ratio adjustments.
Analytical approach
Each method answered a different technical question.
Mass spectrometry
Compare the molecular structures of water-soluble and extracted components.
FindingThe comparison characterized multi-component formulation differences beyond a simple ingredients list.
Physicochemical and approximate composition analysis
Assess chemical features, component profiles and approximate concentration ranges.
FindingThe combined evidence isolated a purchased input that did not match the required chemical grade and composition.
Testing visuals
Inspection imagery and instrument outputs.
Use the reading stages to focus on the supplied samples, evidence and documented project outcome.
¹H NMR spectrum
Water-soluble fraction profile
User-provided ¹H-NMR spectrum of the sample water-soluble fraction.
³¹P NMR spectrum
Alkaline degreaser component profile
User-provided ³¹P-NMR spectrum of the sample water-soluble fraction.
Positive-ion MS spectrum
Water-soluble fraction comparison
User-provided positive-ion mass spectrum of the water-soluble sample fraction.
Positive-ion MS spectrum
Extracted-component comparison
User-provided positive-ion mass spectrum of the extracted sample components.Root-cause conclusion
One purchased raw material did not match the required chemical grade and composition. The mismatch changed the surfactant and functional-component profile, preventing the trial formula from reproducing the benchmark performance.
Recommended next steps
- Procure the verified, appropriate raw-material grade before changing formulation ratios.
- Use benchmark, trial and raw-material comparison together when screening substitutes.
- Confirm chemical-profile alignment before committing to additional production trials.
Documented project outcome
- After sourcing the appropriate raw material, the customer completed a formulation-reconstruction trial.
- The alkaline degreaser was subsequently put into large-scale production.
- The raw-material verification step eliminated further blind formulation iterations and shortened the development process.
Request analysis
Have a comparable technical problem?
Describe the sample, failure symptom, product objective or formulation question so that a suitable investigation path can be discussed.