Since Ricola AG was founded there in Switzerland of 80 years, the famous herbal drops helped a great many people with dry or sore throat. In addition, the traditional family business offers a wide range of herbal products pearls herbs without sugar in many packages and flavours. The assortment plants database full of Ricola is produced in Switzerland with about 90% of products exported to more than 50 countries around the world.
The healing of the eminent power drops behind a well kept of thirteen herbs recipe. Herbs Ricola drops and tablets are grown in the Swiss mountain region, in conditions controlled, natural, without the use of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or artificial fertilizers. Therefore, it is one of door keys to Ricola to follow the high standards of quality. A parameter of the quality management is the moisture content of raw materials and the drops themselves. The process of production experience of serious problems if moisture content rises above a certain level. Similarly, the appearance of each drop is influenced by surrounding humidity. Therefore, monitoring content of water is not only crucial in the development of product, but also as a process and storage stability control parameter.
Challenging samples
Such specific criteria, the Department for control of the quality of Ricola must know exactly how much water does contain their products. The first challenge in determining water is to release water from the matrix of hardware. For samples of Ricola, the best option is to use a mixture of formamid and methanol, ideally 50 C, to improve and speed up the dissolution of the sample.
This task is easily resolved with a Titrator volumetric Karl Fischer with a thermostatic beaker of METTLER TOLEDO. By using the solvent Manager, toxic formamid can pump automatically in the titration cell and a bottle of waste after use, avoiding direct contact with dangerous solutions.
twenty years of reliability
Volumeter of METTLER TOLEDO had a home with Ricola during more than a quarter of its own history. The first instrument of Karl-Fischer was purchased in 1989 and recently replaced by two new V30s for production site and the distribution Centre. Already validated instruments are used daily by a team of laboratory technicians. One of the favorite new features is the touch screen which is regarded as very practical and easy to use. Daniel Spaar, Director of quality control, noted that "the volumeter METTLER TOLEDO proved be highly reliable with a long life over the past two decades." In addition, we really appreciate the fast service if necessary. These were our main reasons for the two V30s, I hope, another 20 years. »
