Apollo L

Thermogravimetric
Analyser

Since 1987 IMP is synonymous with providing high end innovative semi and fully
automated laboratory equipment
 What is TGA?
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is the mass loss or gain in a sample as a function of temperature and time under
controlled atmospheric conditions. More simply, TGA measures the mass lost or gained as a sample is heated according
to a predefined program of temperature and time.

Traditionally samples are placed into laboratory ovens and muffle furnaces for fixed times and usually at fixed
temperatures. Samples are subsequently weighed manually. IMP's TGA units with integrated load cells combine drying,
ashing and weighing processes. This drastically improves efficiency, precision and accuracy, and sample throughput.

IMP TGA’s determine data such as such as moisture content, loss or gain of ignition, loss of volatiles, oxidation, pyrolysis,
plasticizer loss, and ash content. The TGA’s are suitable for a wide range of materials such as ores, coal, coke, cement,
lime, polymers, adhesives, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paper, tobacco and organic samples.

Typically the analysis is performed in air, but other gases such as nitrogen or oxygen can be used to achieve a specific test
atmosphere. Samples can be heated and cooled to specific heating profiles. The heating rates can be set to each
temperature. Samples can be held at fixed temperatures for a predefined period of time or samples can be constantly
weighed at predefined temperatures until they reach constant mass.

IMP TGA’s are used to analyse samples in accordance with several international standards such as ISO and/or ASTM
standards.

Typical sample materials

Ore Cement Tobacco

Coke Coal Food grains

TGA is used for materials such as organic and inorganic matter, synthetics,
lime, polymers, adhesives, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paper,
tobacco, and wheat.

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 When Quality Matters

Apollo L bench top TGA

The Apollo L features a
double carousel to
accommodate the
automation of opening
and closing crucible lids

For applications requiring automated lid opening and closing

The Apollo L is a variant of the standard Apollo TGA. It is identical in most aspects, except it features a second carousel
which holds lids for the sample crucibles. These can be automatically placed and removed during the analytical process
with no need for operator intervention.

It accommodates up to 20 samples of 5 grams each, and can heat them to 1000 °C in a user-defined atmosphere.

Some applications such as ASTM methods for the

determination of volatile matter or other very reactive sample
types requires that the crucibles are covered with lids. The
double carousel allows the operator to setup predefined
methods and select when in the cycle to lift the lids or when in
the cycle lower the lids to seal the crucibles. The carousels are
made from silicon carbide (SiC), which offers superior
resistance to chemical attack and warping at high
temperatures.

The software allows for weighing of the crucibles with or

without the lids on. This level of flexibility allows the operator
to setup analytical programs to suit most known TGA
methods.
Examples include ASTM – methods for the measurement of moisture, ash and volatile matter.

Innovative Thermogravimetric Analysers 2

Apollo L bench top TGA
The Apollo L is our semi-automated TGA with manual loading of the samples or carousels of pre-weighed samples. The
instrument starts from ambient temperature and performs all sample weighing and recording of results automatically.

20 samples of up to 5 grams each can be analysed at temperatures up to 1000°C in customisable atmospheric

conditions.

Large sample capacity

The 20 position carousel is class leading, and enables higher
sample throughput rates.

2 Apollo L TGA's can be controlled from a single PC boosting

productivity, saving space and reducing cost.

Smart connectivity
All of the functions can be controlled remotely
through the internet from a mobile phone,
tablet, or PC.

This allows for monitoring of the instrument

and its operation from a distance. Up to 6
units can be monitored in this manner.

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 When Quality Matters

Powerful heating elements

The Apollo L models all feature high power heating
elements for quick temperature ramping and
excellent temperature stability.

The multi element design ensures that temperatures

are uniform throughout the furnace chamber.

Three thermocouples are used to ensure ultimate

safety, precision and accuracy.

Precision weighing cell

The Apollo L features an insulated
weighing cell that isolates the weighing
process from the heat and atmosphere.

It employs a premium high precision load

cell accurate to 0.1 mg for robust and
accurate mass determination.

The weighing cell is connected to the

furnace by a ceramic spindle with a
pedestal on which the crucibles are placed.

All measurements are stored in the

database.

Innovative Thermogravimetric Analysers 4

 Flexible analysis with or without crucible lids

Crucible lids open Crucible lids closed

Weighing with crucible lids off Weighing with crucible lids on

Benefits and features

• No need for operators to place and remove lids during operation.
• Technique is much quicker when compared to standard TGA’s without the lid removal feature or muffle
furnace methods as there is no need to wait for the furnace to cool so that the operator can remove the lids.
• The double carousel eliminates the risk of operator burns as they attempt to remove crucible lids at
temperature.
• Allows lid removal and placement at any point in the cycle.
• Avoids the risk of the operator dropping lids into the furnace.
• Accommodates weighing with or without lids on.
• Crucibles and lids can be pre-weighed using an external balance to accelerate the changeover between runs.
• Can be used as a standard TGA without the second carousel.

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 When Quality Matters

ControlTrack PC Software
ControlTrack is easy to use, intuitive software which controls the
instrument, tracks the samples and measurement data throughout the
process. Sample registration is made easy with auto fill for samples
with consecutive sample numbers. Samples can also be registered by
bar-code or e-scanner and batch sample data can be imported from
external sources such as LIMS and external weighing modules.

The user is able to build customised methods for analysis on the fly and
save these for re-use or can select from previously stored methods.
During the analytical cycle, the instrument will display the current
parameters such as the real time furnace temperature, sample status
and time remaining. Data is also presented graphically in real time for
convenience. As the results become available, they are instantly
displayed to the operator and/or sent through to LIMS.

ControlTrack also allows the operator to add method specific calculations to the raw data. All data is easily exportable to
applications such as Excel or LIMS. ControlTrack can control more than one TGA, saving valuable space, improving
efficiency and saving costs. IMP’s range of TGA’s can be controlled and monitored from any web enabled device such as
mobile phone or tablet. This also allows for on-line remote diagnostics and support.

Typical international standards

Standard Material to be analysed Title of the standard
D7582-12 Coal and Coke Standard Test Methods for proximate Analysis of coal and
Coke by Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis

D5142 Coal and Coke Standard Test Methods for Proximate Analysis of the Analysis
Sample of Coal and Coke (replaced by D7582)

ISO 562 Hard Coal and Coke Determination of volatile matter

GB/T212-2008 Coal Standard Test Method For Proximate Analysis of Coal

D734-08e1 Solid Combustion Residues Standard Test Methods for Loss on Ignition (LOI) on Solid
Combustion Residues

DIN 51718 Solid fuels Determination of the water content and the moisture of
analysis sample

DIN 51719 Solid fuels Solid mineral fuels - Determination of ash content

ISO11722 Solid mineral fuels Hard coal – Determination of moisture in the general analysis
test sample by drying in nitrogen

ISO1171 Solid mineral fuels Determination of ash

EN 15148 Biomass Solid biofuels - Determination of the content of volatile

matter
EN 14775 Biomass Solid biofuels - Determination of ash content

ASTM E1755 Biomass Standard Test Method for Ash in Biomass

EN 12880 Sludges Determination of dry residue and water content

Innovative Thermogravimetric Analysers 6

 Technical Data
Apollo L bench top TGA
Sample mass <5g *

Number of samples 20

Number of carousels 2 (Crucibles + lids)

Balance resolution 0.1 mg

Precision ±0.02% RSD (1σ, 1g inert sample)

Temperature range Ambient to 1000°C

Temperature control Precision: 2% or ±2°C / stability: 2% or ±2°C

Gas flow rate Adjustable from 1 to 10 l/min

Gas pressure Air 5 – 6 bar (75 – 90 psi) / nitrogen 2 – 4 bar (30 – 60 psi) / oxygen 2 – 4 bar
(30 – 60 psi)

Exhaust air 4 m³ per hour

Power supply 230 V (±10%) / one phase / 50/60 Hz / 15 A (TGA's)

230 V (±10%) / one phase / 50/60 Hz / 2 A (PC, fan)

Element wattage 3 kW

Weight 114 kg

Dimensions 603 x 674 x 577mm

Interfaces Ethernet

Accessories Computer, monitor, printer

*Up to 70 g for special applications

FLSmidth and IMP Automation

combine strengths

Email: info.slc@flsmidth.com Your regional contacts remain the same:

www.flsmidth.com Australia, Perth WA South Africa, Boksburg Canada, Burlington ON

www.impautomation.com Tel: +61 8 9204 4200 Tel: +27 11 916 5000 Tel: +1 905 829 2800