CHONS training: analyzing and characterizing key elements

In industry, CHONS analysis makes it possible to identify and quantify the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur in order to better understand the composition of a material, polymer, formulation, or processed product. This training meets the needs of formulators, R&D teams, quality departments, technical purchasing teams, and materials experts who want to secure supplier qualification, compare two materials, support a de-formulation study, or interpret analytical discrepancies. It naturally fits into materials expertise, competitive analysis, and reverse engineering approaches, alongside other chemical and structural characterization methods.

The training is particularly well suited when a company needs to compare two polymers, verify the consistency of raw materials, investigate a non-conformity, document a supplier variation, or deepen its understanding of a formulation. CHONS analysis helps objectify differences in overall composition and guide investigations when discrepancies are observed between references, batches, or material fragments.

The program covers the principle of the CHONS analyzer, the types of matrices that are compatible, sample preparation, parameters influencing the measurement, result processing, and key metrological considerations. Participants learn how to interpret an elemental result in its industrial context, distinguish a significant variation from simple analytical noise, and formulate a conclusion that can be used in production, quality, or R&D.

Filab’s added value lies in its ability to connect analytical theory with real-world industrial use cases. The training is designed to make results directly actionable in a development, process optimization, materials expertise, or technical decision-validation context. Discussions are based on concrete issues: polymer comparison, additive understanding, mineral filler studies, interpretation of batch-to-batch differences, or supplier investigations.

The laboratory supports industrial companies in building skills in elemental analysis and in cross-interpreting results from complementary techniques. The training is not limited to how a CHONS analyzer works: it also covers sample preparation, the method’s limitations, critical reading of results, and how to combine it with other analytical tools useful for understanding a formulation as a whole. Depending on the objective, participants may also be introduced to related approaches in Formation Lc Msms Lc Ms or to broader advanced characterization issues.

In many cases, CHONS analysis is best considered alongside other techniques. A material study may thus include qualitative screening for volatile organic additives by HS-GC/MS, semi-volatile compounds by GC/MS, and non-volatile compounds by LC-HRMS, morphological observation of fillers, elemental identification of mineral fillers such as Ti, Al, Ca, or Si, as well as assessment of the mass fraction of mineral fillers. This logic of analytical complementarity is at the heart of the training.

To move toward more complete characterization, the training may include an introduction to techniques such as FTIR, pyrolysis-GC/MS, TGA, SEM-EDX, gravimetry, HS-GC/MS, GC/MS, and LC-HRMS. These approaches make it possible, for example, to study chain fragments, search for organic additives such as antioxidants, plasticizers, or UV stabilizers, measure a decomposition profile, or characterize mineral fillers and their morphology. For related analytical training needs, it is also possible to explore our Formation Microplastiques or our Formation Ich Q6B.

Filab operates within a structured quality framework, with a strong culture of chemical, materials, and R&D support characterization. The laboratory has an analytical environment covering in particular elemental, organic, thermal, surface, and morphological analysis. This cross-disciplinary approach makes it possible to offer training that is useful, realistic, and aligned with the constraints of industrial companies seeking reliable, interpretable, and actionable data.

Setting up a training course starts with analyzing your needs: the type of materials studied, the participants’ level, operational objectives, and the techniques already used in-house. The program can then be adjusted to focus on the fundamentals of CHONS analysis, advanced interpretation, material comparison, integration with organic additive analysis, or understanding mineral fillers. To move forward efficiently: define your objectives, share your use cases, schedule the session, train your teams, and secure your analytical interpretations.