Mcert Workshops Review
Around 80 workshops ran over the two days, covering almost every air monitoring theme.
Almost every commonly monitored parameter was covered in one or more of the workshops providing practical help and advice on how best to achieve compliance. However, somewhat surprisingly Mercury monitoring featured heavily amongst the workshop themes. Evidently, this was because of recent initiatives in the United States which many believed will prompt similar monitoring requirements in Europe. Workshops covering various techniques for mercury monitoring were given by Quantitech, Thermo Fisher, PS Analytical and Durag.
Quantitech Managing Director Keith Golding said, “This year we took a strategic decision to dedicate our stand to mercury monitoring. However, we were delighted to receive enquiries for our other emissions monitoring equipment as well as mercury testing equipment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lindsay Holcroft from Teledyne Leeman Labs in the United States who flew in to run a workshop on the Appendix K sorbent tube method for mercury monitoring and to Timo Rajamäki and Ilkka Salomaa from Gasmet who travelled from Finland to deliver a workshop presentation on Gasmet’s continuous mercury monitor.”
“Once again MCERTS provided us with the opportunity to catch up with customers and to meet with all of the key players in the development of new standards for environmental monitoring.”
In common with the last MCERTS event, multiparameter analysis by FTIR featured heavily amongst the workshops but 2009 also saw presentations on new technologies such as Quantum Cascade Laser which was launched by Air Monitors. Stephen Hoskin from the company said: “The reaction to the launch was very positive with potential end users being very enthusiastic. Although not commercially available until testing is completed several high profile organisations have registered an interest. The well focused delegate list at MCERTS 2009 makes the show the best place to launch new products.”
Matthew Wright from Environmental Compliance hosted one of the most popular workshops at the Bretby Conference Centre with his presentation on Operator Monitoring Assessment (OMA version 3). He summarised key issues for operators to be aware of, including: sampling facilities, measuring techniques and performance characteristics. Ray Pullen of Envirocare tackled the subject of ‘Overcoming technical hurdles on the journey towards a workable PPC permit’ in a presentation which also attracted several direct leads for the company.
Other popular workshop sessions included Odournet’s presentation on UKAS accreditation for odour sampling and Testo’s session on how to take better measurements with portable flue gas analysers. Presentations also covered monitoring for VOCs, particulates, direct NO2, SO2 and other sulphur compounds.
A wide range of regulatory requirements and monitoring standards were also addressed, including LCPD, WID, EN14181, EN15267 and OMA.
Many different monitoring applications were discussed, including laboratory analysis, gas sampling and conditioning, emissions monitoring, flue gas analysis, toxic gas detection, workplace, fenceline and ambient air quality.
