Environmental Laboratory Ricardo Provides Technical Support


for the EU’s Review on Nanomaterials Ricardo Energy & Environment (UK), in partnership with the Technical University of Denmark and Milieu Consulting, is providing specialist technical insight to support the European Commission in reviewing the environmental impact of nanomaterials.


Drawing on technical, legal and policy experience at the forefront of nanotechnology regulation, Ricardo Energy & Environment is supporting the European Commission by developing inventories and classifi cations for nanomaterials and


reviewing the extent to which associated environmental risks are captured by European policy. In collaboration with stakeholders across the nanotechnology arena, the team is helping the Commission to review the potential for existing regulation to safeguard the environment as part of its periodic policy assessment, last performed in 2012.


Nanomaterials are substances with dimensions that can be 10,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Materials at this size demonstrate novel properties with applications across diverse areas of science and industry – from colloidal gold in targeted drug delivery through to carbon nanotubes for renewable energy capture. The European Commission concluded in 2012 that the regulations governing chemical releases into the environment, such as through industrial effl uent or household waste water, are applicable to nanomaterials but contained certain gaps and challenges. The lack of experience in the actual application of environmental legislation to nanomaterials is a particular issue considering their complex behaviour.


By monitoring trends in the contemporary nanotechnology landscape, assessing potential environmental release routes and reviewing implementation experience, Ricardo Energy & Environment is providing valuable insight on material hazards and risks to help the European Commission further identify and overcome gaps in environmental regulation. The project team includes legal specialists and nanomaterials scientists, alongside experts in chemical risk and regulatory policy from the UK’s National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC), a subsidiary of Ricardo Energy & Environment. With a history of providing technical and legal expertise for technological development - including analysing the environmental impact of nanotechnology in sustainable tyre development - Ricardo is ideally placed to support the Commission’s timely review.


Ben Grebot, Ricardo Energy & Environment project director, said: “From cancer treatment and solar energy capture, through to personal care products and cosmetics, nanomaterials are having a transformative impact on the world. Developing appropriate regulations for these materials is an important step to supporting this burgeoning industry. We are delighted to be working with the European Commission and our expert partners from the Technical University of Denmark and Milieu Consulting to share our knowledge of this fast moving area. Effective legislation provides high levels of environmental protection, promotes sustainable growth and supports new industries to develop their green potential by providing cleaner solutions to societal challenges.”


Contributions to the study from nanomaterial manufacturers, distributors and users working or trading in the EU, as well as researchers in the fi eld, are welcomed.


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Reliable Measurement of Process Pressure


Continuously enhancing the product range to meet customer’s needs, Rotronic (Switzerland) also offers solutions for measuring the parameter pressure. The fi rst member of the product series, BF2, is the process pressure transmitter BF220.


The process pressure transmitter BF220 is ideal for measurement of absolute pressure in applications with fast temperature changes and in compressed air, HVAC and pneumatic systems. It measures the pressure of neutral gases and nitrogen in piping and closed containers. The pressure of the medium being measured acts on a pressure cell, which converts the pressure into an electronic signal.


The new process pressure transmitter is an ideal complement to the low dew point probe HC2-LDP(-EX).


Benefi ts of the new process pressure transmitter BF220 include: aompact and robust construction, piezo-resistive steel sensor, zero and range adjustable with internal potentiometer, RS-485, IP protection, IP63/IP65, accuracy at 20 °C ±2 K: ±0,25 % FS max, and long-term stability: ±0,2 % full scale/year.


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39


Advantages of Using ED-XRF Spectrometers for the Field Analysis of Soil Detailed in Application Brief


An application brief detailing the advantages of using energy dispersive X-ray fl uorescence (ED-XRF) spectrometers to perform elemental analysis in the fi eld on soil and sewage sludge samples is available to download from Spectro Analytical Instruments’ (Germany) website.


Determining the best course of action when addressing a contaminated environmental site requires both a precise identifi cation of the contaminating elements and a determination of the amounts present. Traditionally, this elemental analysis has been done in laboratories using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). But transporting soil and sewage sludge samples back and forth from the fi eld to a laboratory adds considerable time and cost to the remediation process.


The brief, “Analysis of Soil and Sewage Sludge in the Field with a Portable ED-XRF Spectrometer,” describes dramatic new improvements in portable ED-XRF spectrometers that enable environmental professionals to rapidly characterise samples in remote areas with minimal preparation and with very high accuracy of analysis in environmental monitoring, geochemical prospecting, and mining applications. The benefi ts versus laboratory-based elemental analysis include speed, precision, accuracy and cost-effectiveness.


The brief also outlines key factors to consider when comparing various portable ED-XRF spectrometers and their variations in performance, ease of use, and suitability for the fi eld analysis of soil and sewage sludge samples.


Download the new brief, “Analysis of Soil and Sewage Sludge in the Field with a Portable ED-XRF Spectrometer,” today. The brief is authored by SPECTRO Analytical Instruments, a leading global supplier of analytical instruments for optical emission and X-ray fl uorescence spectrometry.


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5322ad@reply-direct.com www.envirotech-online.com IET January / February 2016


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