Mercury contamination monitoring.

The ergonomically designed Mercury Vapour Indicator (MVI) from Ion Science, is suitable for rapid and reliable mercury detection during decommissioning, demolition, repurposing or refurbishment of industrial plant, laboratories and other premises.

Environmental pressures and subsequent legislation* to control hazardous substances has resulted in a sharp decline in the use of mercury although it remains an important chemical in many industrial processes, including the production of chlorine, cement, caustic soda and sulphuric acid and a wide range of products.

Exposure to excessive levels of mercury can permanently damage or fatally injure the brain and kidneys. Elemental mercury can also be absorbed through the skin and cause allergic reactions.

When properly contained and controlled, mercury can be used safely. Problems start when premises that have historically used the chemical are demolished, decommissioned, repurposed or refurbished. It means mercury that has been contained for decades can be released into the environment.

Ensuring that facilities are safe during construction and that there is no health risk associated with any repurposed land and new or refurbished buildings when they are occupied places an emphasis on effective contamination monitoring.

The  MVI is a revolutionary handheld instrument that can detect mercury in just three seconds. The MVI’s dual beam UV technology eliminates the problem of saturation and the need for regeneration between readings, maximising its availability and uptime.

Fast and accurate, Ion Science’s MVI provides continuous readings and offers two detection ranges of 0 – 200 µg/m3 (res. 0.1 µg/m3) and 0 – 2000 µg/m3 (res. 1 µg/m3). These two ranges provide critical coverage for the OSHA PEL at 100 ug / m³ and the IDLH at 1000 ug / m³.

A high-performance pump ensures fast indication and recovery and the instrument’s audible alarm and large digital display clearly indicate the levels of mercury present.

Other conventional monitoring technologies have limitations. For example, cold vapour atomic absorption is excellent at detecting sub parts per billion (ppb) concentrations of mercury but is far too sensitive for use industrial premises and will over-range, making it impossible to pinpoint mercury sources.

Gold film mercury vapour instruments offer a much wider range but are quickly saturated and then have to be regenerated away from the contaminated area before they can be used again.

Ergonomically designed for simple, one-handed operation, the MVI is the ideal survey unit for rapid and reliable mercury detection. It helps to pinpoint mercury sources in even the most challenging environments.

*The (British) Clean Air Act regulates 188 air toxics, also known as ‘hazardous air pollutants’. Mercury is listed as one of these air toxics. The Act directs EPA to establish technology-based standards for certain sources that emit these air toxics. Those sources also are required to obtain Clean Air Act operating permits and to comply with all applicable emission standards

#PAuto #CleanAir @ionscience @elhcomms

Mercury emissions monitoring.

Gasmet Technologies will focus on mercury emissions monitoring at CEM 2018. Technical support staff will be available at the company’s exhibition booth (#40) to discuss the latest regulatory developments and how Gasmet’s recent certification achievements enable compliance with current and future monitoring requirements.

Gasmet’s Emilia Jyrkiäinen has been invited to speak at the CEM Conference at 11am on 17th May. Her presentation will provide an overview of the regulatory environment relating to mercury emissions, and she will explain why recent performance certification for the Gasmet Continuous Mercury Monitoring system (CMM) is so important.

As part of global initiatives to reduce mercury pollution, emission limits are under constant pressure to reduce, so there is a demand for continuous mercury monitors that are able to measure at these lower levels. The Gasmet CMM now provides the world’s lowest EN15267 certified range - 0 to 5 µg/m3, which means that the operators of combustion plants will be able to demonstrate effective control of mercury emissions.

Gasmet’s Ken Roberts will also speak at the CEM Conference; at 11:40am on 18th May, Ken will deliver a presentation covering three ‘Energy from Waste’ case studies in which operators have employed customised CEMS to demonstrate multiparameter regulatory compliance and improve process control.

@Gasmet_Tech  #PAuto @_Enviro_News 

Effective mercury emissions monitoring certified.

The Gasmet Continuous Mercury Monitoring system (CMM) is the first instrument to be certified for monitoring at the low levels required by industry and regulators.

“This is extremely important news,” says Ken Roberts,  Managing Director of their British subsidiary Quantitech. “In the past the low concentration levels in industrial emissions have represented a challenge to monitoring technology, and instruments have been unable to monitor at the low levels that are required. This announcement means that, at last, monitoring technology is available that will enable effective regulations to be implemented in the fight against global mercury pollution.”

The Gasmet CMM has successfully completed EN15267-3 testing using CVAF (Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence) technology for the analysis of Mercury. The CMM now provides the world’s lowest EN15267 certified range for measurements of Mercury. The instrument is certified for operation across a number of different ranges up to 1000 µg/m3, but importantly, the lowest range is 0 to 5 µg/m3.

Meeting regulatory requirements
The award of an MCERTS EN15267 QAL 1 certificate means that the Gasmet CMM meets the monitoring range requirements of EU Directives, and is considered suitable for use on waste incineration and large coal-fired combustion plant applications. It also presents an opportunity for effective mercury emissions monitoring at other types of combustion plant.

Large combustion plants (LCPs) are combustion plants with a total rated thermal input equal to or greater than 50 MW. The Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1442 established best available techniques (BAT) conclusions, under Directive 2010/75/EU for LCPs and the BAT conclusion was published on 17th August 2017 in the Official Journal of the EU and will come into effect with a four year transition period.

The LCP BREF (Best Available Technology Reference document) includes new BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) e.g. for mercury, and helps European countries to lower the environmental impact of around 3500 LCPs.

“The new ELVs (Emission Limit Values), set by national authorities, will be based on BAT-associated emission levels. The BAT AEL-ranges will be the reference for setting the ELVs, taking into account fuel type, combustion technology and other relevant conditions,” says Roberts. “According to the new BAT conclusions, Mercury should be measured continuously in the LCPs with a thermal input equal to or greater than 300MW. Also, ammonia needs to be measured continuously if SCR (selective catalytic reduction) and/or SNCR (selective non-catalytic reduction) are used.”

“Now that proven technology is available for continuous mercury monitoring at low levels, the operators of combustion plants have an opportunity to implement control measures and demonstrate effective mercury emissions control. It is clear that stricter emission limits will be in place, as described in the LCP BREF document, so process operators can now take steps to ensure that their monitoring is future-proof.”

The Gasmet CMM is a complete emission monitoring system designed to meet the regulatory requirements for continuous mercury measurement at different combustion sources. The new certification also confirms that the Gasmet CMM offers the lowest measurement uncertainty of any other continuous mercury monitor. The system also has a low maintenance requirement and has been designed for the most demanding industrial measurement conditions.

@Gasmet_Tech  #PAuto  @Quantitech @_Enviro_News 

Monitoring of mercury emissions.

Gasmet Technologies  has published a new White Paper on the monitoring of mercury emissions to air from industrial processes.

The Paper (downloadable free here) provides an overview of current initiatives to reduce mercury emissions and explains how continuous mercury emissions monitoring can help inform process control and the efficient operation of pollution abatement equipment, whilst also demonstrating compliance with mercury emission limits.

The advantages of Cold Vapour Atomic Fluorescence (CVAF) are discussed and the answers to common questions are provided, addressing issues such as detection limits, interferences, quenching and calibration.

The Paper also describes the development of Gasmet’s Continuous Mercury Monitoring system (CMM) which employs CVAF to provide a monitor that is simple and low cost to operate, and delivers high levels of sensitivity without interferences. The CMM measures total mercury, and is able to do so in industrial emissions containing high levels of dust.

@Gasmet_Tech #PAuto

Mercury emissions monitor draws crowds in Edinburgh

Gasmet unveiled a new continuous mercury monitoring system (CMM) at Mercury 2013 in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the ‘International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant’. Expressing his delight with the number of enquiries received, Gasmet Europe’s Antti Heikkilä said: “With delegates from over 50 countries, the conference was extremely well attended and our booth received a constant stream of enquiries throughout the week.

“We received requests for monitoring applications covering mercury emissions in coal and waste incineration, to emerging measurement requirements such as mercury in natural gas and other forthcoming regulatory driven applications.

“Most of the visitors to our booth were looking for a monitor with low detection limits, no interferences and with low operating costs, so the CMM was ideal for their needs.”

The Gasmet CMM employs cold vapour atomic fluorescence (CVAF) to deliver very low detection limits at a significantly lower cost than other comparable mercury monitoring instruments.

The CVAF spectrometer has an integrated high temperature converter to effectively transform mercury compounds to atomic mercury without any chemicals or vulnerable catalyst materials. The close coupling of converter and fluorescence cell also ensures that Mercury does not recombine to, for example, Mercury Chloride between the converter and the Mercury Analyser. Sample gas dilution with synthetic nitrogen generated within the CMM system is an effective tool to promote sample transportation whilst decreasing the loss of Hg0 fluorescence signal to interactions with O2, CO2, and H2O. The fluorescence cell is specially designed to eliminate stray reflections and background light so that even with sample dilution the CMM system is capable of monitoring low levels of mercury as required in the forthcoming US Clean Air Mercury Rule.

The system is controlled through a touch screen control panel, which is integrated with the analyser and calibrator inside an air-conditioned cabinet, and calibration is maintained with regular automatic zero and span calibrations using Hg0 and HgCl2 calibration gases generated within the CMM system - typically every
24 hours. Periodic linearity checks with atomic mercury or mercury chloride are also possible.

Mercury conference to confront contentious topics!

One of the panel sessions at the Mercury 2013 International Conference in Edinburgh (28th July – 2nd Aug) “will be highly contentious and should result in a heated debate,” says Prof. K. Clive Thompson who will be chairing the session with Eric Uram from SafeMinds.

Prof K C Thompson

Taking place on Tuesday 30th July at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, the panel session will explore topical public concerns about mercury and health. Experts in this field will discuss the toxicological significance of mercury exposure from dental amalgams, vaccines and fish consumption for vulnerable groups, and will debate whether current concerns are scientifically justified.

The continued use of thiomersal to preserve vaccines is the subject of much debate. It has been used for over 80 years and some passionately believe that it causes harm to the newly born (e.g. Autism) when used in certain vaccines, whilst others would dispute this. The recent 32 deaths from the tragic fungal meningitis outbreak associated with compounded methylprednisolone acetate (MPA), a steroid injectable product, highlights a potential risk from not using a suitable preservative in vaccines See also FDA statement to the US Congress, The Fungal Meningitis Outbreak: Could It Have Been Prevented? (14 Nov 2012).

The benefits of eating a diet high in oily fish will be weighed against the risk from ingesting elevated amounts of methylmercury. A large number of comprehensive studies has been carried out and to-date there is no agreed consensus.

Finally, the panel will discuss whether mercury amalgam fillings cause harm. Alternative, tooth-coloured materials are being used to replace mercury amalgam fillings. These vary in composition and properties, and include composites, cements, and sealants. The panel will examine the degree of assessment that has been undertaken on these replacement fillings, and whether mercury fillings should be withdrawn.

Mercury emissions monitor

Gasmet has a new continuous mercury monitoring system (CMM).

Gasmet Europe’s Antti Heikkilä says “The CMM employs cold vapour atomic fluorescence (CVAF) to deliver very low detection limits at a significantly lower cost than other comparable mercury monitoring instruments.

“We have already installed systems in Finland and Poland, and initial users have been delighted with the CMM’s ability to measure low Mercury levels without cross-interference from gases such as Sulfur Dioxide. No separate chemicals, gold amalgamation concentrators, air scrubbers or additional gases are required, so operational costs are also very low.”

Legislation to limit mercury emissions from combustion processes is progressing quickly in many parts of the world, but process managers have already started to implement mercury monitoring programs. Antti says “We have received enquiries from companies that need to prepare for compliance by better understanding their mercury emissions. However, we are also being contacted by process managers, for example from Sulfuric Acid manufacturing plants, who wish to control Mercury; not just in their emissions, but also in the end-product, by measuring directly in the process stream itself.”

The CVAF spectrometer has an integrated high temperature converter to effectively transform mercury compounds to atomic mercury without any chemicals or vulnerable catalyst materials. The close coupling of converter and fluorescence cell also ensures that Mercury does not recombine to, for example, Mercury Chloride between the converter and the Mercury Analyser. Sample gas dilution with synthetic nitrogen generated within the CMM system is an effective tool to promote sample transportation whilst decreasing the loss of Hg0 fluorescence signal to interactions with O2, CO2, and H2O. The fluorescence cell is specially designed to eliminate stray reflections and background light so that even with sample dilution the CMM system is capable of monitoring low levels of mercury as required in the forthcoming US Clean Air Mercury Rule.

The system is controlled through a touch screen control panel, which is integrated with the analyser and calibrator inside an air-conditioned cabinet, and calibration is maintained with regular automatic zero and span calibrations using Hg0 and HgCl2 calibration gases generated within the CMM system - typically every 24 hours. Periodic linearity checks with atomic mercury or mercury chloride are also possible.

The Gasmet CMM is now available from a worldwide network of subsidiaries and distributors; however visitors to Mercury 2013 will be able to meet some of the Gasmet staff that have been involved in the development of this technology at stand No. 24.

Reducing global mercury emissions!

A legally binding agreement to reduce global mercury emissions was signed by 140 countries in January this year (2013), amid delight that an important milestone had been reached in the control of toxic mercury emissions. However, the effectiveness of the treaty will be assessed by a panel of experts during ‘Mercury 2013’ - the International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) which will take place in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 28th July – 2nd August 2013.

The negotiations which led to the development of the treaty were convened by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the signatories will implement controls and reductions across a range of products, processes and industries where mercury is used, released or emitted. These range from thermometers and energy-saving light bulbs to emissions from the mining, cement and coal-fired power sectors. The treaty also addresses the direct mining of mercury, export and import of the metal and safe storage of waste mercury.

Mercury and its various compounds have a range of serious health impacts including brain and neurological damage especially among the young.

Susan Egan Keane of the Natural Resources Defense Council in the United States, and Dr. David Evers a leading wildlife toxicologist will co-chair a session at Mercury 2013 entitled ‘Evaluating the effectiveness of the Global Mercury Treaty’.

A panel comprised of scientists and policy makers will explore the gaps, needs, hurdles, government participation and scientific capacity (especially in the developing world) for creating a global mercury monitoring system that can evaluate the effectiveness of the new mercury treaty.

The panel will discuss issues such as: How to create standardised and replicable methods for monitoring the effectiveness of efforts to reduce mercury among different countries of the world; How to best communicate information about progress; What basic components are needed for cost-effective and customised national plans for monitoring; and Where standardised monitoring stations should be located.

Panel topics will include (a) monitoring changes in the largest source of mercury pollution - artisanal small-scale gold mining; (b) monitoring changes in environmental mercury resulting from treaty actions, using the Global Mercury Observation System; and (c) evaluating changes in human exposure through bio-monitoring.

As the importance of mercury as a pollutant becomes better understood, Mercury 2013 is likely to generate a great deal of interest throughout the world as between 800 and 1200 delegates will travel to Scotland from all over the world.

The pollutant of greatest concern

Mercury is moving towards the top of the agenda for regulatory bodies and interest from the public domain is growing. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) now defines mercury as “the pollutant of greatest concern”.

In response to this, the organisers of the 11th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) are finalising plans for an event that will bring together the world’s leading authorities on mercury pollution to ensure that global action on this pollutant is coordinated and effective.

Previous ICMGP events took place in Canada, USA, Germany, Brazil, Japan, Slovenia and China. Mercury 2013 will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Scotland, from 28th July to 2nd August 2013.

Sessions will include themes such as monitoring, environmental biogeochemistry, atmospheric transport and human exposure. The conference is timely because it follows the finalisation of the UNEP Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury. Delegates may be particularly interested in special sessions which reflect the tagline of the Mercury 2013 which is: ‘Science Informing Global Policy’. The ICMGP will provide that important link between those governments, regulatory authorities and industries that need answers to their mercury issues and those scientists and organisations with expertise to provide the most appropriate solution.

The overall objective of the UNEP convention is to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic releases of mercury and its compounds. Since mercury touches many areas of global science, the conference programme promises to be diverse and interesting, covering occupational exposure by small scale gold miners and indigenous fish-eating communities, cleaning contaminated land, reducing emissions from industries such as coal combustion and cement production, and handling mercury containing materials such batteries and even dental amalgam.

Mercury 2013 is expected to attract between 800 and 1200 delegates and will include an exhibition featuring all of the world’s leading organisations connected with mercury. The organisers have announced that, even though the event is nearly a year away, only a few stands remain and these will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.