Basic and industrial chemical testing and regulatory services to help meet quality and regulatory standards and optimal efficiency across the supply chain.

Basic and industrial chemicals are produced in huge quantities and are critical ingredients for products used by both industry and the general consumer. They include chemical raw materials derived from oil (petrochemicals), basic inorganics and intermediates for chemical processes.

Understanding the manufacturing processes and the chemical composition of these basic chemicals is important in order to meet cost reduction targets and to comply with increasingly stringent environmental and safety regulations.

Our scientists test and analyse basic and industrial chemicals which are used in a range of industries such as specialty chemicals, polymers, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, detergents, solvents, textiles and many others. Tests include chemical composition and physical properties, conducted to international standards including ASTM and ISO, and in-house methods assist your quality control testing, trace analysis and contamination issues.

We also provide comprehensive consulting support for developing and implementing worldwide regulatory compliance strategies for new and existing products. Our services relate to new product introductions, data development, as well as validation of compliance of existing products with local and global regulations, delivered with Total Quality Assurance.

Intertek’s support for the manufacturing process includes safety services for chemical powders and scientific consultancy for implementation and monitoring of on-line and at-line measurements. We also know that assuring the longevity and safety of your materials and plant infrastructure are key priorities. At Intertek, our corrosion and asset integrity experts can provide testing and consultancy in the areas of chemical treatments, corrosion control and production chemistry to promote safety and lower the risk of materials failure.

To help navigate the complex supply chains and distribution routes, our cargo inspection and supply chain auditing services can safeguard your products and minimise risk.

Wherever you are positioned in the supply chain, our network of laboratories, capabilities and Total Quality Assurance expertise is delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion to support your research or manufacturing, ensuring your products and processes reach optimal quality and efficiency.

The chemical industry creates an immense variety of products that affect virtually every aspect of our lives and uses a wide range of raw materials, from air and minerals to oil. With increasing competition worldwide, innovation remains crucial in finding new ways for this industry to satisfy its increasingly sophisticated, demanding and environmentally-conscious consumers.

The products of the chemical industry can be divided into 3 categories:

Basic chemicals

Chemicals derived from oil – petrochemicals polymers and basic inorganics (and increasingly from coal and biomass)

Basic chemicals, produced in large quantities, are mainly sold within the chemical industry and to other industries before becoming products for the general consumer. For example, ethanoic acid is sold on to make esters, much of which in turn is sold to make paints.

Petrochemicals and polymers

The hydrocarbons in crude oil and gas are first separated using their differences in boiling point, then converted to hydrocarbons that are more useful to the chemical industry, such as branched chain alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons. In turn, these hydrocarbons are converted into a very wide range of basic chemicals which are immediately useful (petrol, ethanol) or are subjected to further reactions to produce a useful end product eg. fertilizers.

Basic inorganics

These are relatively low-cost chemicals used throughout manufacturing and agriculture. They are produced in very large amounts and include chlorine, sodium hydroxide, sulfuric and nitric acids and chemicals for fertilizers. As with petrochemicals, many countries are now able to produce them at a lower cost, creating competition but still meeting ever more stringent environmental and safety standards.

Speciality chemicals

products are Covers a wide variety of chemicals from crop protection, paints and inks, to textiles, paper and engineering. New constantly being created to meet both customer needs and new environmental regulations. An everyday example is household paints which have evolved from being organic solvent-based to being water-based. Another is the latest ink developed for ink-jet printers.

Consumer chemicals

Consumer chemicals are sold directly to the public. They can include, detergents, soaps and other toiletries. The search for more effective and environmentally safe detergents has increased over the last 20 years, particularly in finding surfactants that are capable of cleaning anything from sensitive skin to large industrial plants as well as producing a wider range of synthetic chemicals for toiletries, cosmetics and fragrances.