ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY
Sample Preparation Tackling sample preparation bottlenecks in environmental analysis
An alternative solution to rotary evaporators for solvent evaporation
Environmental testing laboratories are operating in an increasingly demanding landscape, where high productivity, cost efficiency, and strict regulatory compliance must coexist. In both heavy metals and organic pollutants analysis, sample preparation continues to represent one of the most significant bottlenecks in the analytical workflow.
Laboratories are required to process a wide variety of complex matrices, such as solids, sludges, soils, waters, and biological samples, while meeting regulated methods and ever-lower action and reporting limits. At the same time, fast turnaround times and urgent analyses are becoming the norm, placing additional pressure on already stretched resources.
Concentrators (nitrogen blowdown concentrators) are becoming increasingly used as an alternative to rotary evaporators due to both the speed of evaporation and space saving in the laboratory. The systems use a nitrogen purge plus heat to provide high speed evaporation.
A range of four LabTech laboratory concentrators is available from Analytix that provide solvent evaporation from 6, 10, 64 samples up to a system for 96 well plates. The mid-range 10 position MultiVap system supports simultaneous evaporation with 50 and 200ml cups with an automatic detection of liquid endpoint. Most of the systems support a multiple range of vial sizes and have a touch screen terminal for easy programming.
More information online:
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Sample preparation is often labor-intensive and time-consuming, relying heavily on hazardous acids and solvents. This creates multiple challenges, including risks to operator health and safety, limited availability of fume hood space, and
increased potential for contamination or reliability of results.
Despite the diversity of analytical techniques, heavy metals and organic pollutants workflows share common preparation challenges: reproducibility, throughput, safety, and compliance.
Addressing these challenges requires a strategic focus on sample preparation as a critical component of the analytical process. If there is no confidence in the initial sample preparation stage, there can be no confidence in the results from subsequent analyses. Since 1988, Milestone has provided sample preparation tools featuring unmatched safety, throughput, performance and ease of use. Decades of experience in this field have led to the development of advanced technologies for standardising and controlling key stages in the preparation process, including digestion, extraction and mercury analysis.
By leveraging Milestone’s microwave-
based and automation-enabled solutions, laboratories can improve reproducibility, while maintaining full compliance with international environmental methods.
By streamlining workflows and improving process control, Milestone provides new assets to achieve superior elemental analysis through a better sample preparation workflow.
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PFAS Analysis European PFAS and emerging contaminants summit 2026 Analytical Instrumentation
Total analysis and multi-stream process analyser: Engineered for performance
When reliability matters most, the CI Analytics 9730 Process Analyser delivers. Designed for gas, liquid, and LPG samples, this robust, field- proven system meets the toughest demands of hazardous environments while giving you unmatched flexibility and performance. Built on the trusted foundation of our industry-leading 9710 model, the 9730 adds a dynamic combustion system for the precise conversion of total sulphur, total chlorides, and NOx (one impurity at a time) at ultra-low ppb levels, expanding your analytical capabilities without compromise.
Fully automated and equipped with advanced ciSmart™ software, the 9730 provides effortless precise digital flow control while measuring up to four process streams. Its rugged NEMA 4X/ IP66 enclosure and compact, wallmountable design makes it ideal for installation in harsh field conditions. With outstanding versatility, reliability, and a low cost of ownership, the 9730 has earned its reputation as CI Analytics’ most trusted and popular process analyser; the smart choice for continuous, high-precision analysis in multiple industries.
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As Europe strengthens efforts to protect public health, water resources, and environmental sustainability, effective management of PFAS and emerging contaminants has become a critical priority. The European PFAS & Emerging Contaminants Summit 2026, taking place on 25–26 March 2026 in Slough, UK, will provide a focused, high-level platform to address these challenges through innovation, regulation, and cross-sector collaboration.
The summit will bring together 120–150 senior participants from across Europe and selected international markets, including regulators, policymakers, water utilities, environmental agencies, industrial end users, technology providers, and research organisations. Designed as a content-driven event, the programme emphasises practical insight, technical depth, and real-world application.
Across two days, delegates will explore the full contaminant management lifecycle, from
advanced detection and monitoring, through treatment and remediation, to regulatory compliance and long-term risk reduction. Key themes include evolving PFAS regulations in the UK and Europe, emerging contaminants beyond PFAS, industrial substitution and supply-chain impacts, soil and groundwater remediation, landfill leachate and biosolids management, and next-generation technologies such as membrane filtration, adsorption, AI-enabled monitoring, and digital twins.
The agenda features expert contributions from organisations including the Drinking Water Inspectorate, Severn Trent Water, Affinity Water, CDM Smith, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Sartorius AG, Gujarat Fluorochemicals, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, alongside leading technology innovators and consultants.
Panel discussions will address how regulators and industry can balance
compliance with innovation and how cross- sector collaboration can accelerate effective, sustainable solutions.
Join industry leaders and policymakers in shaping the future of PFAS and emerging contaminant management in Europe.
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Soil Analysis Mercury analysis of environmental samples
As increasing emphasis is being placed on the monitoring of mercury emissions, both private and public institutions are looking at characterising soil, sediments and wastewater samples. Contaminated soil has to be excavated and remediated or depending on the level of contamination, disposed of as hazardous waste.
Several methods are available for mercury analysis in environmental samples like wastewater and soil and traditional analytical processes such as Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption (CVAA) and ICP-MS both require sample preparation prior to analysis. This results in both techniques being costly, labour intensive and subsequently expensive coupled with a long turnaround time. The result is a cumbersome process with multiple sample preparation steps required. Furthermore, instrumentation can require
extensive and frequent calibration (as often as twice a day). Direct mercury analysis, as described in EPA Method 7473, is an alternative to these methods and is being used successfully to determine total mercury in environmental samples.
The Milestone DMA-80evo and the DMA- 1evo Direct Mercury Analysers from Analytix reduce time spent on the calibration routine as it can last up to six months and is matrix independent. Samples require no sample preparation and are simply weighed into sample boats and loaded into the instrument. Measurements take as little as six minutes and total mercury results are generated at the end of analysis.
Given the ease of use and cost effectiveness, the DMA-1 is also ideal for use out in the field or off-shore on oil platforms. Systems can
be calibrated in the laboratory prior to use meaning hazardous mercury does not need to be shipped with the system. Maintenance is simple, with support often performed remotely, ideal when up-time is crucial.
More information online:
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