There are many reasons why you should choose our Colloidal Silver but we feel the strongest and most convincing reason is that the products that we supply have been rigorously tested. These tests give you an indication of the product profile.

All results below have been conducted on our solutions manufactured by us.

Testing and Analysis

In addition to the testing we perform on every batch made, we also send samples to an independent laboratory to ensure quality. Due to our academic background and contacts, we also have a full test lab available to us at Bristol University research department which include an Electron Microscope and other useful test equipment.

TEM Analysis

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a microscopy technique in which a beam of electrons is transmitted through a specimen to form an image. The specimen is most often an ultrathin section less than 100 nm thick or a suspension on a grid. An image is formed from the interaction of the electrons with the sample as the beam is transmitted through the specimen. The image is then magnified and focused onto an imaging device, such as a fluorescent screen, a layer of photographic film, or a sensor such as a charge-coupled device.

Initial testing was conducted by Bristol University in 2008 and the more recent pictures were taken by Plymouth University.  They show the actual particles in our product and we estimate the largest particle is around 40nm. True nano-size particles.

Hover over the pictures below to enlarge.

Testing and Analysis
Testing and Analysis

Bristol University

Testing and Analysis

Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC)

Testing and Analysis

Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC)

EU Cosmetic Regulation Testing EC 1223/2009 – Plymouth University

Our product has been tested for compliance with the EU Cosmetic Regulations as a cosmetic ingredient. Because of the size of the colloidal particles, they have to be assessed using TEM analysis (see above) at a much higher magnification than previously.

The two slides above show the sizes of the particles at different magnifications and the right hand image shows an image from 2008 which shows how far TEM has advanced in the few short years. Again, please note that the images were taken from samples of our manufactured solutions and are NOT marketing materials from a generator supplier.

Because of this testing, we can supply colloidal silver as an ingredient for cosmetic formulations.

Table 3. Mean and median particle sizes (hydrodynamic diameter) determined by NTA.

Table

Based on these direct measurements of hydrodynamic diameter, the volume-weighted median for particles of 32 nm diameter would be the particle number concentration (12×108 particles/ml) times the volume of a single particle (i.e., 4/3Pi r3); or approximately (200 nm3/ml). An example plot of the particle size distribution as hydrodynamic diameter is shown (Figure 2). Note the range of sizes with a few percent of particles as small as 10 nm and as large as around 90 nm for the largest aggregates measured in the samples.

graph

Size distribution of colloidal silver determined using nanoparticle tracking analysis (Nanosight NTA 2.2). The concentration at each size category (nm) in shown as 106 particles/ml. Cumulative percentage undersize is shown in red (%).

Particle size distribution in the dispersions

“Nanoparticle tracking analysis was used to determine the size distribution of the particles in the bottle, using the same methodology as the previous batch that was analysed. Particles were detected in the bottle (Table 1), and the median size was around 29 nm (close to the 32 nm measured in the previous batch). The mean diameter (35 nm) was also close to the previous bottles (34.5 nm). The particle number concentration was 10-11 x 108 particles/ml; almost identical to the previous batch at 11-12 x 108 particles/ml. There appears to be very good reproducibility of the colloidal silver particle size and number concentrations between the bottles of the materials tested by Plymouth University.”

Testing and Analysis

Malvern Instruments Zetasizer and Nano Tracking Analysis (NTA) software.

The Zetasizer range provides both exceptionally high performance and entry level systems that incorporate combinations of a particle size analyzer, zeta potential analyzer, molecular weight analyzer, protein mobility and microrheology measurements. Particles and molecules from less than a nanometer in size to several microns can be analyzed by a range of variants to suit your applications and budget.

The systems measure size and microrheology using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential and electrophoretic mobility using electrophoretic light scattering, and molecular weight using static light scattering. In addition the system can be used in a flow configuration to connect to a GPC / SEC system for use as a chromatography size detector.

Trading Standards

We have worked with Trading Standards to ensure our product is advertised correctly and through blind testing, that our product is consistent with the its description.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Certification

Our Traditional Amber Solution has been screened by a WADA approved laboratory to ensure it is free from prohibited substances.

The Prohibited List (List) was first published in 1963 under the leadership of the International Olympic Committee. Since 2004, as mandated by the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), WADA is responsible for the preparation and publication of the List.

For more information, see WADA

WADACertificate

Testing and Analysis

 Independant Analysis – Eurofins Laboritories – 2011

For our assurance we have had the product tested independently. These tests also include tests for bacteria such as Staph & E. Coli which is very important.

South West Water

Quality testing of the water supply is very important. We conduct various tests from time to time as part of our quality control. This is an example of a test certificate we conducted with ion-resin technology for passive water filtration.

Testing and Analysis