Leading engine manufacturers have defined chemical element specifications for coolants used in their engines. This underscores the importance of the chemical composition of coolants for reliable engine protection. If the cooling system fails, there is a risk of serious engine damage.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) is an ideal analytical technique for the elemental analysis of new and used coolants. Due to its multi-element capability, large linear dynamic range and high sensitivity, it is the recommended analytical procedure for the analysis of trace contamination, as well as for the analysis of additives, which are often present at higher concentrations inside the ethylene glycol matrix.
This report describes the principle methodology for the elemental analysis of coolants. It presents typical detection limits for a selection of elements, as well as studies on precision, accuracy and stability.