New IC device is now in use! – Increased capacity in coolant analysis
Year of publication: 2026
The coolant analysis department at the OELCHECK laboratory has further expanded its testing capacity: A fourth ion chromatography (IC 4) instrument has been in operation since April 2026.
What ion chromatography reveals
Just like the three existing devices, IC 4 will also be used to analyze anions in the coolant. These negatively charged particles can originate from make-up water, be present as coolant additives, or be formed during glycol degradation.
The diluted sample is introduced into a separation column for analysis. Due to different retention times of individual ions within the column, they elute sequentially at the outlet, where a detector records them and determines their respective concentrations in mg/l. The analysis is based on test standard ASTM D5827.
The analysis covers a wide spectrum of anions: fluoride, chloride, bromide, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate, as well as anionic glycol degradation products such as glycolate, acetate, formate, adipate, and oxalate.
Ion chromatography is a standard component of the test program for OELCHECK coolant and antifreeze sets ADVANCED, PREMIUM, and ULTRA. The measured values deliver valuable information regarding make-up water quality, specific additive content, and coolant degradation processes.
More capacity to handle increasing sample volumes
The existing IC capacity has become increasingly stretched due to rising sample volumes, despite ongoing method improvements. The commissioning of IC 4 now provides additional measurement capacity, enabling efficient processing of higher sample throughput while maintaining our standard of fast and dependable analyses.
The newly commissioned instrument is seamlessly integrated into the established laboratory workflow and complements the three existing IC systems in performing routine coolant analytical procedures.
OELCHECKER Summer 2026 | Page 6
