Thermo Fisher Introduces Gold-Plate Detection Technology

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Billerica, Mass., has introduced its Thermo Scientific Au/Gold Detection & Identification Technology (AuDIT), a patent-pending software feature designed to help gold buyers meet the challenge of identifying gold-plated items.

The company says its AuDIT plating detection technology is for use only on Thermo Fisher portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers, including the Thermo Scientific Niton XL2 precious metal analyzer.

According to Thermo Fisher, several independent, complementary methods in the software work together to alert users to the probability that an item is plated. The company says the technology works regardless of the gold concentration of the plated surface layer, and that it can be used for vermeil (gold-plated silver), as well as gold-plated copper, steel, tungsten and any other nongold substrate.

“For buyers of scrap gold jewelry, gold-plated pieces present significant challenges and can adversely affect the profitability of their business," says Jeff Walker, vertical director of recycling and metals production for Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments.

"Now, with our proprietary AuDIT software feature, there’s an easy, efficient way for gold-buying operations to detect gold plating with a simple push of a button or pull of a trigger."

A related product, the company’s handheld Niton XL2 precious metal analyzer is designed to provide a rapid, single-step process for on-the-spot sorting and valuation of all precious metals as well as quantification of other desirable and undesirable elements. Further, the test is nondestructive, Thermo Fisher says, so no material is lost or damaged in the testing process.

Offered in a value package, the instrument comes standard with a mobile test stand, battery and battery charger, software, PC connection cables and locking carrying case.

Additionally, the company notes, the analyzers provide integrated storage of all test results in a tamperproof data format and also incorporate multiple communication options including Bluetooth wireless and USB communications.

The Niton XL2 precious metal analyzer comes standard with Thermo Scientific Niton Data Transfer (NDT) software, a suite of data management utilities that allows users to set operator permissions, print certificates of analysis to document results, export data into standard formats (.csv or MS Excel) or operate the analyzer remotely from a PC. According to Thermo Scientific, the NDT file format preserves and protects the original data from each sample analysis, ensuring that data is not compromised.

Thermo Fisher Scientific customers are served through a network of more than 70 partners and 30 factory-trained service centers around the world. The company’s portable XRF analyzers are available in a range of configurations and with an assortment of optional features and accessories.