Interview

How Benchtop NMR technology
is accelerating manufacturing: aninterview with a chemical laboratory
QC manager
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), one of thefour major organic spectroscopy techniques, hasdeveloped rapidly due to its non-destructive nature,speed, accuracy and resolution. However, due toits high cost, it has not been as widely adopted
in industry. In recent years, new benchtop NMR
instruments, which are more cost-effective, haveevolved to become a valuable supplement to, orreplacement for, high field superconducting NMR
technology. Adoption in industrial quality control,
R&D, teaching and other fields is gradually rising.
Instument.com.cn, the leading online resource forscientific instruments in China, interviewed a newbenchtop NMR customer in industrial quality control,
Mr. Xueguang Jin, Quality Assurance Managerof a fluorine chemical manufacturer in Zhejiang
Province, China shared details of the justification forinvestment and use of benchtop NMR spectroscopy
and his views on the technology.
During the interview, there were 3 very clear
observations when comparing benchtop NMR withGC and ICP ( Gas Chromatography and Inductively
Coupled Plasma) analysis methods.
1. The procurement cost of benchtop NMR
instruments is equivalent.
2. The maintenance cost is lower.
3. Operation is easier.
It was therefore concluded that the applications andadoption potential for benchtop NMR in industry will
be widespread.

1Here are the details of the discussions:
Instrument.com.cn: Could you please share
the reasons why your company decided topurchase a benchtop NMR?
Xueguang Jin: Our company is a joint venturewith the parent company in Japan. This year, ourcompany set up a new production project. In thechemical manufacturing process, we need tomonitor the process products to ensure the final
product quality. For process quality control, weselected benchtop NMR which was recommended
by our Japanese parent company. Because
benchtop NMR is much simpler, and faster for us, itmeets our requirements for production line quality
control.

The installation was completed in July 2020. The
final test data was consistent with the standards
used by our Japanese headquarters. These arealso, required to meet the quality control standardsof our company's new production plant in Zhejiang
Province.

Instrument.com.cn: How has the X-Pulse
NMR performed after installation?
Xueguang Jin: Since the installation of X-Pulse in
July, it has been used almost every weekday. In
the future, it may be used more frequently in threeshifts with 24-hour uninterrupted operation. Our use
frequency is consistently high.

The production team are always focused on theaccuracy, stability, and rapid detection performanceof any equipment we buy. Based on these indicators,
and after comprehensive comparison, we selected
the X-Pulse benchtop NMR system from Oxford
Instruments.

As a production-oriented enterprise, we use
X-Pulse to analyze the components of intermediatechemical products in the manufacturing process.
We determine the content of intermediate chemicals
from their structure to achieve real-time monitoringof final product quality. The production line needs tobe tested at very specific time intervals, with every
batch being tested,

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Probable breakdown product-40-45

-50

-55

-60

-65

-70

-75
19F (ppm)

-80

-85

-90

-95

-100

-105

-110-115

Two fluorine NMR spectra of a typical battery electrolyte showing the ease ofwhich contaminants can be identified. Data from Oxford Instruments.

2Instrument.com.cn: How convenient is it touse X-Pulse?
Xueguang Jin: The X-Pulse is very simple to use.
In our new production project, there are so many
samples in the production process. It is difficult
to accurately determine the content of a certain
structural substance in the process step. The
benchtop NMR technology recommended by theJapanese headquarters is adopted to make thistesting easier and faster.
Now using X-Pulse, we can start to test withoutsample pretreatment. We add the sample into theNMR tube with a dropper, then move it into theinstrument, click scan, and the result is obtained inabout 5-10 minutes.
The maintenance of X-Pulse is very minimal basically no maintenance cost. Having the deviceboot like a fast computer is also very convenient.
Since the installation in July, it has run almost
constantly, and its operation is very stable.

Instrument.com.cn: What's your opinion on
benchtop NMR?
Xueguang Jin: When we talk about benchtop NMR
technology, we can't help comparing it with highfield NMR technology.
As industrial users, we focus on the key ownershipindicators of instruments. In addition to theacceptable cost, we also need to consider theaccuracy, stability and rapid detection of theequipment. Based on these indicators, theadvantage of benchtop is very clear.
Firstly, the cost price of up to $1,500,000 prevents
most industrial companies from investing in highfield NMR. Secondly, the annual operating cost for
us of high field NMR is at least $30,000 which is
not a small expense for industrial users, especiallyfor small and medium-sized production enterprises.
The emergence of complementary low costbenchtop technology without ongoing operating
and maintenance costs enables us to financiallyjustify investing.

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Taking X-Pulse as an example, it not only meet
our needs for fast testing, accuracy, stability, andother performance indicators, but also enables ourenterprise users to save substantial costs. Besides
some electricity charges, there is basically nooperating cost. In addition, X-Pulse has no coolingequipment and other peripherals, and it does
not have special requirements for the installation
environment. Just like a computer, it can be installed
in a conventional laboratory. There is no need toselect floors or set shielding magnetic fields. Thesefactors make it very friendly to industrial users!
Besides chemicals and mixtures, polymers,
agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, benchtop
NMR spectroscopy can also be used in theautomotive field. For example, our company
headquarters has applied NMR from Oxford
Instruments to the online analysis of the current
carrying battery electrolytes used in electricvehicles.
Compared with ICP, GC and other instruments thatare more popular in the laboratory, the operation ofbenchtop NMR with similar cost is simpler, and theapplications are also more extensive. We believethat the industrial adoption of benchtop NMR will beaccelerate quickly to become a standard techniquefor both R&D and quality control.

OOH+

H2SO4 (cat.)
HOCF3OO+ H2O

CF3

Using fluorine NMR to monitor of an esterification reaction at 18 Celsius between
2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and ethanoic acid. Data from Oxford Instruments
Summary and Outlook:
NMR technology has a strong customer base, highfield NMR has been widely used in Colleges andUniversities, large central facilities in industry andGovernment Research Institutions. As a complement
to high field NMR and as a dedicated solution,
benchtop NMR spectroscopy enables the wider
adoption of NMR technology in the middle andlow-end industry markets and academic teaching.

If you have any questions about
this article, please contact ourexperts: magres@oxinst.com

This fluorine chemical enterprise in Zhejiang
Province has introduced benchtop NMR technology
into their production line. With the combined
promotion of users and instrument manufacturers,
the rise of benchtop NMR technology across manyindustries will become a trend.

Visit nmr.oxinst.com© Oxford Instruments Industrial Products Ltd trading as Oxford Instruments Magnetic Resonance,
2021. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Part no: MR/226/0121

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