So, what exactly have we been up to?
2023 has seen a successful UKAS audit against ISO17025 and MCERTS, with a strong focus on continual improvement, culminating in a number of extensions to our capabilities and schedule of accreditation.
Following significant investment in both the lab teams and instrumentation, we have added to our routine service offering (all under Kens watchful eye…)
- 2 new GCMS systems to extend capacity for PAH, SVOC, PCB analysis, with a successful application for the extension of our ISO17025 and MCERTS accreditation for PAHs in Soil.
- Setting up and accreditation to ISO17025 and MCERTS of a new ICPOES methodology for the analysis of metals in soil. Previously based on ICPMS, we have set a new robust soils analysis method on a brand-new instrument, cross validated on our existing system to provide a greater capacity for analysis combined with the faster run time available with OES to allow us greater flexibility in our service delivery and a more resilient service.
- To complement the soils analysis, we have a new ICPMS method for the testing of metals in waters (Groundwater, Surface Water, Effluent, Prepared Leachate and Landfill Leachate) which was successfully accredited to ISO17025, and the purchase of a second instrument to add further depth to our ongoing capacity.
- Accreditation of a new Discrete Analyser to improve scope and automation in the testing of anions and nutrients in both soils and waters. Analysis covered include Chromium VI, Ammoniacal Nitrogen, Chloride, Fluoride, Sulphate, Phosphate, Oxides of Nitrogen and Alkalinity. Accreditation has been conferred on a range of testing (see our UKAS schedule of accreditation for full details)
What’s Next?
Doesn’t do to let the grass grow under your feet, so the next set of projects taking us into the New Year include:
- TPHCWG: As well as a recent exercise to re-assess levels of detection in soil, we are also performing a full validation with the intent to obtain accreditation to ISO17025 and MCERTS for our GCxGC method in soil, covering the Aliphatic and Aromatic hydrocarbon bands from C10 to C35. We hope to submit the Extension to Scope (ETS) this year, with accreditation to follow in 2024.
- Re-accreditation of our soils PCB method to MCERTS – following the purchase of some new instrumentation, we’re progressing a submission to re-add MCERTS accreditation to our PCB method in early 2024.
- More automation: in line with our principles of Lean management, continual improvement and efficiency we will this month take delivery of a new robotic titration system which will allow the automation of multiple titrimetric analyses, bring more operational efficiency and capacity.
- More BTEX: another area we’re investing heavily is expanding the instrumental platform for the analysis of BTEX and VPH (C5 – C10 Petroleum Hydrocarbons) with the additional of two new instruments (one in the building and another on its way) so we can complement the growing scope of accreditation in the area of TPH with additional capacity and higher throughput.
- Not content with new methods for routine metals, we’re also putting the new ICPOES to work adding accreditation for Water Soluble Boron and Water and Acid Soluble Sulphates to increase capacity and resilience.
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