Precise analysis of water, soil and air in environmental analysis applications

Climate change and the pollution of soil, air and water increasingly threaten the balance of our habitat and pose numerous global challenges.

Microplastics, pesticides, tensides and many other substances pose a high risk potential for humans & animals. The versatile methods and tools of environmental analytics help to analyse hazardous substances that pollute our environment.

Increase precision, sensitivity and efficiency of environmental analysis systems

Strict guidelines, such as those in the Drinking Water Ordinance, place high demands on analytical equipment for monitoring water quality. A high number of analytical questions must be answered by highly sensitive and robust measurement technology. Ultra-black coating products from ACKTAR can be used in numerous measuring devices and instruments in environmental analysis to make them more sensitive, accurate and efficient. Analytical applications can also be optimised in the industrial environment; here is a selection of possible areas of application:

Gas detection technology

Toxic or flammable gases and vapours can sometimes be difficult for human sensory perception to identify. Infrared gas detection & gas warning systems increase operational safety by reliably monitoring hazardous substances/gas or checking the oxygen concentration in industrial applications. Especially in hazardous environments, increased emphasis must be placed on the reliability of such gas detection systems.

Aerosol particle measurement technology

Potential health risks from inhaling fine dust or ultrafine particles that can settle deep in the lungs are the subject of many scientific studies. High-tech measuring instruments enable the precise measurement of aerosols and the detection of airborne particles in a range from less than one nanometre to 35 micrometres. The spectrometers used to determine the number concentration and size of nanoparticles require the highest level of detection capability and reliability. After all, they form the basis for workplace health, safety and indoor air quality, in that they allow health and safety officers, e.g. in the gas & oil industry or at waste disposal sites, to detect hazardous substances and take countermeasures.

Particularly due to current events, in relation to Corona viruses, interest in aerosol distribution and concentrations indoors has increased. Aerosol spectrometers can measure particle size distributions with high temporal resolution. ACKTAR deep black coated components, such as apertures and slit baffles, support stray light optimisation in the measurement system.

Acktar coating products increase the measurement accuracy and thus also the required reliability. The sensor signal of the gas detector or system can be considerably improved by targeted stray light optimisation using an ACKTAR BLACK direct coating in the interior of the housing or of black-coated optomechanical components adjacent to the sensor.

Ion chromotographic analysis

The high selectivity and sensitivity of ion chromatography opens up a wide range of applications for this method in environmental analysis. Its main application is the qualitative and quantitative analysis of anions and cations of all kinds. The water quality can be determined within a very short time on the basis of the concentration of the anions bromide, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, o-phosphate and sulphate.

For the spectroscopic detection methods of ion chromatography, UV/VIS detection, fluorescence detection and refractive index detection, the deep black direct coatings can be used to achieve higher signal strength and measurement quality, for example by the ACKTAR BLACK direct coating of inner housings and slit coatings.

Real-Time Biomonitoring (rtb)

By measuring chlorophyll A fluorescence with spectrofluorometers, for example, the intensity of blue-green algae or microalgae can be determined and used to monitor water quality and the ecological condition of lakes and rivers. Biological early warning systems and toximeters help to identify environmentally harmful substances and mixtures. Areas of application are both the monitoring of raw water in drinking water treatment, of cooling and process water, of bathing waters, but also general environmental monitoring and applications in oceanography.

Fluorometers are highly sensitive, highly specific instruments for the quantification and detection of fluorescence activity. Suppression or avoidance of unwanted light signals at the instrument level of the measurement systems can be achieved with ACKTAR’s deep black products and components, helping to improve detectability, for example by lining the instrument interiors with ACKTAR’s MetalVelvet foil blanks.

We will be delighted to advise you on whether a standard product from our web shop or a ready-coated part according to your customised drawing from our one-stop shop is the best solution for your individual project.

Further fields of application for ACKTAR products.

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