Industrial Chemistry Division - Case Studies...

  A test kit has been developed to allow car race organisers to check for         nitromethane in racing fuel.
  Laboratory studies have compared the effects of chemical pre-treatments and the         use of scale inhibiting additives on the scaling tendency of bore water used in         boilers and seawater feed for desalination plants.
  Chemical properties of engine coolants claiming to comply to the Australian         Standard have been checked.
  Cases of “industrial fallout” on car paintwork have been investigated. In one case,         the source was identified. In another case, it was found that paint overspray was         not responsible.
  Shipments of bulk materials which have been tested for specification conformity         or contamination include diesel fuel, fuel oil, crude oil, salt, sulphuric acid, caustic         soda, polyol, ethanol, cement, urea, sulphur and soya bean meal.
  Many types of liquids, from essential oils to graffiti removers, have been tested for         compliance to dangerous goods regulations. Powdered solids have been tested         for flammability.
  Blends of biodiesel with diesel fuel have been tested for compliance to Australian         Federal Government requirements (the Fuel Standard (Diesel) Determination         2001).
  Levels of scale inhibitor have been monitored in water from oilfield producing         wells, to help ensure effective inhibitor dosing programs.
  Produced water and water-based mud filtrate analysis is conducted for major,         minor and trace constituents, including volatile fatty acids. Mud tracer additives         such as bromide and thiocyanate can be determined. Given the mud fluid         composition (including tracer level), it is possible to “back out” the contamination         from a recovered formation water sample to determine an actual virgin formation         water analysis.