Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) offers a uniquely simple way of measuring oil content in oilseeds such as soya, canola and jatropha, and now also in algae. Soybean oil now accounts for about 90% of all bio-fuel stocks in USA. Jatropha, which is well-suited to more arid lands and may contribute to a reduction in desertification, is grown mainly in the Philippines and India. Interest in the use of algae is increasing since they can be grown in poorer quality land or at sea and the potential oil yields are much greater than for traditional sources (30 times more energy per acre than soybeans). For most samples, all that is necessary is to weigh the sample into a sample tube and insert the tube into the instrument. Accurate and precise answers are provided automatically in around a minute. There is no need for solvents, grinding, or expert technicians.
Calibrations are just as easy. In most cases, just a single pure oil sample is enough. Calibrations are long-lasting and robust, and are not affected by particle size, colour, growing season, origin, or any of the other many parameters that disturb other analytical techniques.
Oxford Instruments’ latest model, the MQC, embodies everything we have learned about benchtop NMR over the last 25 years. The MQC is small, to conserve precious bench space; uses the latest digital electronics for stable and reliable operation; and has easy to use software for calibration and measurement.
Variants in the MQC range can handle samples from single seeds (for breeding applications) to 150ml volume samples, to get the best sampling accuracy from raw materials.