Quality control of ethyl alcohol at IMA Polska – from raw material to tanker loading
Gas and liquid chromatography as the foundation of quality control
Quality control of ethyl alcohol at IMA Polska is based on precise instrumental analyses. The company’s laboratory is equipped with two gas chromatographs and one liquid chromatograph. A single analysis takes 25 minutes, and each instrument performs at least 30 analyses a day. This means continuous monitoring of the physicochemical parameters of every batch of product – without downtime and without compromise.
For the recipient ethyl alcohol A standard is only of value if it translates into a repeatable result in the production process. Any deviation in the methanol or aldehyde content means that a pharmaceutical plant must halt a production batch. For a cosmetics manufacturer, this in turn leads to customer complaints and financial losses. A certificate sitting in a filing cabinet will not, in itself, solve this problem. It will be solved by a system in which the history of each batch can be traced step by step.
Full control of the production chain – from grain to tanker
IMA Polska carries out quality control of ethyl alcohol at every stage of production. The analytical chain begins as early as the procurement of raw materials. The company assesses each batch of grain using an NIR analyser, which enables it to quickly determine key quality parameters of the grain even before the production process begins.
Ethyl alcohol and bioethanol They are then sent to the chromatography and microbiology laboratories. The finished product is sent to the tax warehouse in Murowana Goślina. From raw material to tanker loading, the entire process takes place without any intermediaries. The absence of intermediaries means there are no gaps in the documentation – ensuring full traceability and transparency at every stage.
Quality management systems at IMA Polska
The organisational and procedural framework is defined by the three management systems implemented in IMA Poland. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management, ISO 14001:2015 certification for environmental management, and an HACCP system ensuring product safety. These systems are not merely a formality – they are practical tools used in the day-to-day operations of the laboratory and production.
The implementation of these standards enables a systematic approach to the quality control of ethyl alcohol. Every procedure is documented, every analysis result is archived, and any deviation from the standard triggers a defined corrective action process. As a result, IMA Polska’s customers can be confident that the parameters of the product supplied will be consistent.
Bioethanol and KZR INiG certification – requirements of the National Indicative Target
World Standards Day 2024, organised by ISO, IEC and ITU, was dedicated to the theme of clean and accessible energy, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). In the case of bioethanol This is a strictly practical issue, rather than merely a matter of principle.
Without documented proof of the raw material’s origin and KZR INiG certification, the fuel will not count towards the National Indicative Target (NCW). This means that the physico-chemical quality of the bioethanol alone is not sufficient. It is also necessary to meet the requirements for sustainable production and full traceability of the biomass supply chain.
IMA Polska meets these requirements thanks to an integrated control system that covers both product quality parameters and documentation of raw material origin. The KZR INiG certification confirms that the bioethanol produced by the company meets the sustainability criteria required by Polish and EU regulations.
Selecting a supplier of ethyl alcohol – what to look out for
When qualifying a new supplier of ethyl alcohol, the procurement and quality departments are faced with the question of the verification hierarchy. A Certificate of Analysis (CoA) provides information on the parameters of a specific batch of the product. System certificates confirm the implementation of management standards. An on-site audit allows us to verify whether the declared procedures actually work in practice.
The most effective approach combines all three elements. The analysis certificate alone does not guarantee consistency in subsequent deliveries. A system certificate without an audit may remain a mere formality. Only a visit to the manufacturer’s premises and verification of the entire supply chain – from raw material procurement, through the laboratory, to logistics – provides a complete picture of the supplier’s ability to maintain consistent quality.
Why full traceability matters
In regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and the fuel industry, the traceability of product batches is a fundamental requirement. Quality control of ethyl alcohol must encompass not only the final analysis result, but also documentation of every stage of production. Only then can the customer be certain that the product will meet the requirements of their own manufacturing processes.
IMA Polska ensures this traceability through vertical integration – from its own grain procurement, through production and laboratory analysis, to storage in a tax warehouse and the loading of tankers. The absence of intermediaries in this chain eliminates the risk of gaps in documentation.
Check the offer of IMA Polska
Are you looking for a supplier of ethyl alcohol or bioethanol with comprehensive quality control and documented batch traceability? Take a look at IMA Polska’s product range or contact us, to discuss the details of our collaboration. Please also check out the available services in the field of laboratory analysis and the logistics of ethyl alcohol.