Chemical residue analyses

Increasingly, chemical residue analyses are required for two main reasons:

• environmental specifications
• effects on subsequent processing (particularly dying)

Most of the analyses required arise from some form of environmental specification – whether the fibre is intended to be incorporated in products carrying a environmental quality label (eg. "Ecolabel"), or due to constraints imposed on subsequent processors (such as the "Water Quality Framework" in the UK).  Analyses commonly required under this category include:

• pesticide residues
• detergent residues - see  Info-bulletin 5.10
• mothproofing agents - see  Info-bulletin 5.11
• residual phenols

Analyses undertaken to provide information to subsequent processors of the wool include:

•  pH
•  alkali solubility
• extent of bleaching
•  grease and ash residuals

Investigative analyses may also be undertaken in cases of claims of damage to fibre consignments (eg. wet wool – damage by sea-water or rain?)

Residue analyses may be carried out in-house, at our Auckland laboratory, or subcontracted to accredited specialist laboratories.