Oxidizable Substance Determination

The expression oxidizable means having the ability to react chemically with oxygen. Oxidizable substance determination is made to determine the presence of molecules that combine easily with oxygen. Potassium permanganate is used as a strong and brightly colored oxidizing agent to detect the presence of oxidisable substances in water. Examples of contaminants detected by these tests include, but are not limited to, microbiological organisms, biological compounds, and metal-containing compounds.

Oxidizing materials are liquids or solids that readily emit oxygen or other oxidizing agents such as bromine, chlorine or fluorine. They also contain materials that react chemically to oxidize combustible materials. This means that the oxygen combines chemically with the other material, increasing the likelihood of combustion or explosion. This reaction may occur spontaneously at room temperature or may occur under mild heating. Oxidizing liquids and solids pose serious fire and explosion hazards.

Oxidizing agents accelerate the development of fire and make it more intense. It causes rapid combustion of substances that normally do not burn easily in air. Or it causes spontaneous combustion without the obvious presence of flammable substances. What happens when an oxidizing material comes into contact with a combustible material is largely dependent on the chemical stability of the oxidizing material. The less stable an oxidizing material is, the more likely it is to react dangerously.

Most oxidizing materials do not burn themselves, but form highly flammable or explosive mixtures when combined with combustible materials such as:

• Organic (carbon containing) materials such as paper, wood, flammable and combustible liquids, greases, waxes, many plastics and textiles
• finely divided metals
• Other oxidizable substances such as hydrazine, hydrogen, hydrides, sulfur or sulfur compounds, phosphorus, silicon, and ammonia or ammonia compounds

Some oxidizing agents are incompatible with non-flammable materials. These oxidizers can react dangerously with water, inorganic acids, and even other oxidizing agents.

Our organization also provides oxidizable substance determination services with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.