Determination of nitrite levels in engine coolant by UV/Vis spectroscopy

In this application note, PerkinElmer presents experimental data on the determination of nitrite levels in engine coolant by UV/Vis spectroscopy using the PerkinElmer LAMBDA^™ 365+ UV/Vis Spectrometer. Engine coolants are an important fluid sometimes neglected in motor vehicles. Some citations in the literature report that a major cause of engine failure behind lubricant failure, is that of the coolant. Formulations of engine coolant (also known as antifreeze) consist of glycol, water, and an additive package. Although the additives can differ by their chemistry and formulation, the function of the additives in the fluid is to prevent corrosion and promote operational efficiency. Most in-service lubricant analysis programs have testing procedures for the analysis of coolants.