Hi,
We would like to know if there is a way to analyze ink.
Is there some kind of laboratory in europe? How much would this cost?
Thanks already
(e-mail address removed)
Anything can be analyzed if you are willing to spend the money, but you
need to specify what type of analysis you want. Contact the chemistry
department of your nearest ubniversity and describe what you have (ink)
and what you want to know. Gas chromatography and IR spectrometry will
yield fairly good constituent analysis, and even give you an idea of
quantitative analysis. TLC or paper chroamtography will separate out the
dyes which can then be analyzed individually for identityand relative
quantity. Your cost will be determined by what you really want to know. If
you only want to know if a particular compound or element is present in
the ink, you can probably get a graduate student to do it for free. If,
however you want to have an analysis which will allow you to formulate
your own ink, the cost will rise dramatically. In the US you can request a
Manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the producer. Many of these
list the chemicals (but not their quantities)present in the product. Some
will simply state that there are no known hazardous materials present or
that the product is not known to present any hazard through contact,
ingestion, or inhalation under normal use!
Nemomarii
