Emissions monitor first at GB's NPL

NPL first to deploy new version of Horiba emissions monitor

Kevin Blakley NPL

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the Britain's national measurement institute and is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate measurement standards, science and technology available. With a keen interest in technological developments, NPL was the first British organisation to take delivery of the new Horiba PG250 SRM.

NPL's staff provide expert advice on emissions monitor installation, calibration and quality assurance. The organisation's emissions monitoring teams are MCERTS certified and UKAS accredited, which means that they are able to provide services such as the quantification of emissions in accordance with EU Directives, validation of routine continuous emission monitors to BS EN 14181, turbine and burner optimisation, and validation of emission abatement techniques.

The PG250 SRM, from Quantitech, has been used for emissions monitoring work. Employing Standard Reference Methods, it is an upgrade from one of the most popular portable multiparameter continuous emissions monitors in the world.

Kevin Blakley, Project Manager for Emissions Monitoring at NPL, was one of the first to use the PG250 SRM. He says, "The new version includes a Paramagnetic analyser for Oxygen, which is particularly useful because we occasionally use the instrument purely as an Oxygen analyser.

"It also has a tighter measurement range for Carbon Monoxide (0 – 75mg/m3) which has improved accuracy and resolution. NPL has employed the PG250 SRM in a range of emissions monitoring applications, including petrochemical refineries and Kevin says, “We have been very impressed with the flexibility and improved performance of the instrument.”

In March 2011, the monitor was also awarded an MCERTS certificate, verifying that the instrument analyses CO, NOx, SO2, CO2 and O2 to the high standards required by the local Environment Agency.

Raman images and analysis become even easier

The XploRA™ Raman microscope has been launched with the ground breaking SWIFT confocal Raman image operation from HORIBA Scientific, and will enable this compact analytical Raman spectrometer to enter into the realm of the research microscope.

The XploRA™ is a new concept in Raman microscopy, bringing Raman chemical identification directly to your microscope. High resolution light microscopy is effectively coupled to uncompromised Raman spectroscopy in one unique, compact package.

The system provides the established performance of HORIBA Scientific Raman microscopes at a surprising price. Combining microscopy and chemical analysis the XploRA™ retains the full functionality of your microscope coupled with high performance Raman spectroscopy.
The new SWIFT functional expands the possibilities of this groundbreaking instrument still further providing much faster and higher definition images than one would expect from an “analytical” Raman microscope.

Compact and rugged in design, the XploRA™ is easy to use and transport due to its minimal footprint, so it is the ideal smart microscope for every R&D, QA/QC and forensic lab. Now you can explore the true nature of your sample with rapid compound identification and chemical imaging, with no sample preparation and analysis in normal ambient conditions. This non-destructive technique of analysis will transport you into a new dimension of microscopy.
Intuitive operation through new fully compliant software modules including GO!™ the Guided Operation wizard ensures complete ease of use and gets you up to speed immediately.
The XploRA is the complete analytical Raman microscope so come and see it in operation at Microscience 2010, stand F9.