The Institute of Environmental Technology (IET) has acquired a Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer thanks to the REFRESH project.

Scientists at IET CEET involved in the REFRESH initiative can now monitor changes in a sample’s mass and analyze its thermal properties under varying temperature conditions. The project facilitated the purchase of a Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer (TGA/DSC) for approximately CZK 3 million, integrating both methods.

“The instrument will enable us to identify individual polymers within a mixture of waste plastics, which is crucial for addressing the challenges of chemical recycling that we are tackling in the REFRESH project. Previously, we did not have this type of analyzer in the Waste and Fuels Analysis Laboratory,” explained Pavel Leštinský from the IET.

The simultaneous TGA/DSC allows for observing how a sample’s mass changes with temperature. Thermal degradation, or mass loss during heating, occurs during processes such as pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion. Concurrently, the DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) provides insights into endothermic reactions (like polymer melting and pyrolytic decomposition) and exothermic reactions (such as crystallization and oxidation) occurring in the material. This dual analysis enhances our understanding of the processes that may or may not accompany mass changes.

Additionally, the analyzer features an FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer) gas cell compatible with the existing FTIR spectrometer, enabling the analysis of individual thermal decomposition products. A reaction cell can also be connected to the device to accommodate corrosive and reactive gases, including hydrochloric acid, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen.