ALCONTROL LABORATORIES

Environmental Testing Services

ALcontrol laboratories are providers of independent, high quality food and environmental testing for the benefit of customers, employees and shareholders. ALcontrol Laboratories has grown, over the past twenty-five years, to become one of the largest environmental (water, land and air), food and oil analysis organisations in the UK and Ireland.
 
Our customers come from a diverse range of industries including: blue chip companies; water authorities; regulatory authorities; government bodies; engineering companies; environmental consultancies; oil companies, major utilities and food manufacturers.

Emissions Monitoring Group - Services

Air Emissions Monitoring

ALcontrol Laboratories’ Emissions Monitoring Group operates throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe.

As one of the principal Emissions Monitoring companies in the country and a recognised current Environment Agency Contractor we offer an extensive, accredited (UKAS Schedule), integrated sampling and analysis portfolio.

ALcontrol Laboratories’ Emissions Monitoring Group has grown significantly over the past ten years. Our fundamental stack sampling knowledge was gained through IPC compliance monitoring for major industrial clients.

Stack Emissions Monitoring

With over 10 years experience within air and emissions monitoring field our expertise covers extensive process and industry types, with a particular focus on parameters important to compliance:

- Dioxins
- Dioxin-like PCBs
- Heavy Metals
- Particulates (incl. PM10)
- Acid gases
- Combustion gases

Operating to the highest standards, our emissions monitoring and air quality capabilities cover all legislative guidelines and requirements including:

- IPC, IPPC, HWID and LAPC authorised processes
- Commissioning and optimisation trials

Supporting our highly qualified site sampling personnel, our office-based team provides technical support and extensive contract management capabilities to the extent that we manage:

- Environment Agency check monitoring contracts
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency contracts
- Compliance monitoring for multi-site incineration operators

With a fleet of mobile laboratories our monitoring service is provided nation-wide extending into Ireland and Europe.

Air and Stack Emissions Monitoring Service Covers the Following Industrial Sectors and Processes

Incineration Industry

- Clinical Waste
- Municipal Waste
- Hazardous Waste
- Sewage Sludge
- Animal Incinerators and Rendering Plant

Metals Industry

- Steelworks
- Non Ferrous
- Metal Refining & Metal Recovery
- Finishing Processes
- Smelting Processes
- Metal Solders & Pressed Metal Processes

Minerals Industry

- Wet & Dry Cement Kilns (including waste solvent burning)
- Raw Mills
- Double Rotators
- Clinker Coolers
- Brick Kilns

Glass

- Optical Fibre
- Glass Wool Manufacturers
- Fibre Glass

Refractory

Paper Mills

Chemical

- Process & Production Facilities

Crematoria

Oil Refineries

Combustion Plant

- Gas Power Stations
- Gas Turbine Mapping

Sampling Methods for Air and Stack Emissions

- Particulates 
- Dioxins & furans 
- Dioxin like pcbs 
- Pahs 
- Heavy metals 
- Acid gases 
- Voc (speciated) 
- Voc (by fid) 
- Carbon monoxide 
- Oxides of sulphur 
- Oxides of nitrogen 
- Particle sizing 
- Ammonia 
- Hydrogen sulphide 

Ambient Air Monitoring

Site and Boundary Assessments

- Fugative Dust
- PM10 and PM2.5
- Acid Gases
- Heavy and Trace Metals
- Organics
- Odour
- Landfill Gases
- Noise Levels (with frequency assessments)

Workplace Monitoring Service

Our comprehensive Workplace Monitoring Service is geared to meet your statutory Health and Safety requirements under specific COSHH regulations
 
Occupational Hygiene

All of the contaminants below are sampled and quantified using MDHS, NIOSH or OSHA methods. With results compared to the relevant Occupational Exposure Limits.

- Metals (Heavy and Trace Elements)
- Dusts (Total Inhalable and Respirible)
- Asbestos
- Respirible Crystalline Silica
- Manmade Mineral Fibre
- Organics (including Isocyanates) *
- Airborne Microbiological Assessments
- Welding Fume

Utilising our UKAS Accredited Laboratories an extensive range of organic parameters can be sampled and analysed for

Noise Surveys and Personal Noise exposure

Carried out in accordance with the Noise at Work Regulations 1989

Local Exhaust Ventilation Assessment

Carried out according to Health and Safety Guidance (HSG) notes 54 and 37 with the main elements of the assessment consisting of:

- A visual assessment

- Measurement of performance and an assessment of control

- An assessment of the performance of the air cleaner or filter where the air is re-circulated.

Asbestos and Water Analytical Testing

ALcontrol Laboratories are UKAS accredited for both asbestos testing and asbestos inspections. With 100 asbestos staff in the UK, we offer the following services throughout the UK and Europe:

Asbestos Testing and Monitoring Services

Full (Type 1, 2 and 3) surveys for asbestos materials in buildings which could incorporate electronic registers to ensure you, your employees, contractors and other users of your buildings are not exposed to asbestos.

Fully compliant with MDHS 100, Asbestos Tracker professional asbestos registration software forms an integral part of ALcontrol´s Asbestos monitoring services via palmtop surveying, facilitating a comprehensive audit trail and allowing flexible reporting formats.

Water Analytical Testing

ALcontrol Laboratories has over 25 years experience in the analytical testing market. Originating from the internal laboratory of UK major water utility, ALcontrol has grown significantly in recent years through acquisition and organic growth to become a market leader in environmental and food analysis.

Customers from a Diverse Range Of Industries

- Chemical industry
- Engineering companies
- Food industry
- Hydrogeological and environmental consultants
- Manufacturing companies
- Paper industry
- Power industry
- Regulatory authorities e.g. councils
- Waste management companies
- Water industry and associated companies

Potable Water Testing

Analysis of highest quality is essential when testing the drinking water supplied to millions of consumers. ALcontrol offers extensive analytical water testing capabilities and service levels to ensure that our customers have total confidence in the service that we provide.

ALcontrol Waters offer full range of regulatory microbiological and chemical parameters for clean water as well as Legionella analysis and parasitology detection such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. We are licensed to carry out regulatory Cryptosporidium analysis.

Sample types covered include

- Potable (drinking) water including private water supplies and bottled mineral water process waters
- Swimming pool waters

We operate from our state-of-the-art laboratory in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, supported by our network of regional laboratories, essential for time critical microbiology analysis. Our full water analysis service includes regulatory drinking water parameters as well as additional capabilities including:

Chemistry

- Anions and metals
- Pesticides and herbicides
- PAHs and Phenols
- Physical tests
- VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)

Microbiology and Parasitology

- Full range of routine regulatory microbiological parameters
- Legionella analysis

Parasitology detection:
 
- Licensed to carry out regulatory Cryptosporidium analysis
- Giardia using the latest techniques

Environmental Water Analysis

Analysis of environmental waters is carried out from our purpose built, state of the art laboratories located throughout the country. Our range of analysis includes:

- Anions
- Ecotoxicity – including rapid testing
- Metals
- Organics – pesticides and herbicides
- Wet chemistry parameters

Ecotoxicity Testing

Ecotoxicity testing complements the more traditional chemical and microbiological testing carried out by ALcontrol Laboratories. 
 
Employing a range of species from algae and bacteria to fresh water and marine invertebrates, we provide a comprehensive testing service for solid and liquid samples.

Our ecotoxicologists contribute to committees, publications and seminars on the subject.

TEST PROCEDURES

ALcontrol Laboratories employ a wide array of methodologies for ecotoxicity testing for both phytotoxicity and zootoxicity purposes.

Test Species

A selection of species used by our ecotoxicology services are provided below.

Bacteria

- Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas, Vibrio fischeri

Algae

- Selenastrum capricornutum (renamed Raphidocelis subcapitata/Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata)

Freshwater invertebrates

- Brachionus calcyciflorus, Ceriodaphnia dubia (illustrated), Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex, Tetrahymena thermophila, Thamnocephalus platyurus

Marine invertebrates

- Brachionus plicatilis, Heterocypris incongruens

Plants

- Monocotyl Sorghum saccharatum (Sorgho), dicotyls Lepidium sativum (garden cress) and Sinapis
alba (mustard)

Ecotoxicological Kit Applications

Compost Testing

In addition to standard chemical tests and testing for pathogen contamination, our ecotoxicity services can provide plant growth trials, germination and root growth potential (using the Phytotoxkit) and toxicity (using the Phytotoxkit and the Ostracodtoxkit FTM), and maturity/stability using respirometry.

Contaminated Land and Waste Disposal

Complementing the chemical analysis capabilities of ALcontrol´s Contaminated Land laboratories, our ecotoxicity services can be applied either directly on the soil or sediment sample using the tests referrred to above under ´Compost Testing´ or on a leachate produced from the soil or sediment (for example using Microtox® or the Algaltoxkit FTM).

IPPC

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) is a regulatory system that employs an integrated approach to control the environmental impacts of certain industrial activities. It involves determining the appropriate controls for industry to protect the environment through a single permitting process.

Direct Toxicity Assessment (DTA) is a process of measuring the environmental hazard (toxicity) posed by a discharge and assessing whole effluent toxicity using standardised aquatic toxicity tests.

Monitoring of Treatment Works

Toxic substances can potentially have significant impact on the biological processes in treatment plants. Bacterial populations play an important role in the biodegradation of wastewaters. Toxic substances have a deleterious effect on bacterial activity. The  key to this service is the respiration inhibition test and the nitrification inhibition test.

Potable Water Contamination

There is an increasing risk of malicious contamination of water supplies. This could have profound implications. (This is in addition to the ever present risk of accidental contamination.) Early detection of potentially threatening toxic contaminants in drinking water is of key importance.

We provide a complete package to carry out simple testing for the detection of toxic contamination. Comprehensive guidance, training and back-up on the utilisation of two complementary bioassays (the Thamnotoxkit FTM and the Rapidtoxkit) is now available. Both these assays are easy to perform.

Analysis of Food, Contaminated Land Oil and Fuel

Food Laboratories Offers

- Same day refrigerated sample collections throughout the UK
- Electronic reporting and data management systems on customer’s site
- Computer generated interim ‘out of specification’ reports to customers’ own limits
- Comprehensive analysis service for both microbiological and chemical analysis
- Extensive technical expertise across both microbiology and chemical testing
- Personal service and fast response from our local laboratories supported with the backing of a major laboratory service
- Common methods and systems of quality control across all our laboratory sites
- In addition to food analysis we offer a comprehensive UKAS accredited analysis service for drinking water, effluents, soils, air emissions and workplace monitoring.s

Food Testing Services

ALcontrol Food Laboratories specialises in quality testing services, providing the food industry with all the benefits and economies of scale of the larger testing services whilst delivering the service and friendly informality of the smaller laboratories.

ALcontrol provides a more economic solution than using in-house testing facilities and gives greater flexibility with its highly experienced staff and unique I.T. technology. This is achieved by the ALcontrol Regional Laboratory Concept. The aim is to be within two hours travelling time of all our clients and through the use of technology, behave as if we were actually a part of the client operation.

Employing local staff ALcontrol supports the local communities as well as its clients, both locally and internationally based. Each ALcontrol site mirrors the others (see details on its group accreditation status in the quality page) in that they carry out all the same basic microbiological testing.

Many of the sites carry out basic chemistry testing; two of the largest sites carry out the full nutritional testing and behave as sub-contraction centres in support of the local operations.

Across Europe ALcontrol has many laboratories with specialist functions carrying out testing which is not viable locally, but economically justified when samples are sent in from the regions. Pesticide analysis is one such example. The rule is: where local testing is required, and the demand is there, any needed test will be accredited and carried out locally.

Every ALcontrol site has a site manager, laboratory managers as appropriate and a service manager, heading up highly trained teams of analysts and technicians totally dedicated to serving their local market.

Each ALcontrol site has its own transport infrastructure based on dedicated refrigerated vehicles and experienced drivers, which carry out consumables to clients and return samples. Every ALcontrol site can also rely on further support from the ALcontrol quality manager, technical director, commercial support managers and of course both the business director and operations director. This group of support staff provides the glue to ALcontrol, maintaining the standards across the business and providing direct help to clients when the need arises.

Contaminated Land Analysis

The Land Division specialises in the analysis of soils and associated groundwaters from potentially contaminated sites for an extensive range of environmental parameters.

Oil Analysis

ALcontrol Robertson Oil Analysis has over 25 years of experience in monitoring all types of lubricated systems. Whatever your business, through chemical and physical analysis of oils and fuels at our state of the art laboratories in Conwy, North Wales, coupled with expert engineering diagnosis, we can advise you on the condition of your oil and machinery.

Advantages

- Safely extend oil drain intervals
- Schedule maintenance
- Reduce downtime
- Extend warranties

Steps in Oil Analysis

Step 1: Taking Samples - Using the supplied kit – thief pump, tubing, sample bottle, instructions and information sheet – obtain a 100ml sample at oil drain time or routine service intervals. Dispatch sample back to lab in self-addressed carton provided.

Step 2: Sample Analysis – Once the sample has arrived at the lab, it will be registered, analysed and interpreted within 36 hours.

Step 3: Results – You will receive an analysis report of your choice showing the condition of your sample and what that means for your machinery. Reports are available via e-mail, personalised web pages or hard copy.

Fuel Analysis

In addition to the analysis of engine and transformer oils, ALcontrol Robertson provides fuel analysis services.

Tests Performed On Fuels

Cetane Index

By determining the mid boiling point by distillation (IP123) and the density (IP160) of a fuel the cetane index can be calculated (ASTM D976). This measures the ignition quality of a diesel fuel. The lower the cetane number the more rapid the increase in ignition delay. Diesel fuel should have a cetane number greater than 40.

Cold Filter Plugging Point

The Cold Filter Plugging Point (IP309) provides information on potential precipitation of paraffin on filters at low temperatures.

The Cold Filter Plugging Point is defined as the temperature (expressed as a multiple of 1oC) at which the fuel, when cooled under the prescribed conditions, either will not flow through the filter or requires more than 60 seconds for 20 ml to pass through.

Cloud and Pour Points

When a fuel cools to low temperatures it can no longer perform its primary functions.
The lowest temperature at which a fluid continues to flow and therefore performs its functions in known as the pour point (measured by IP15). Just prior to reaching the pour point the fluid becomes cloudy due to the crystallisation of waxy constituents. The temperature at which the cloudy appearance is first seen is known as the cloud point (measured by IP219). Using fuels at temperatures below the cloud point can result in filter plugging and poor performance.

Diesel fuel should have a cloud point of less than -17°C.

Copper Corrosion

Fluids working in an engine will always come into contact with metallic components made from copper or copper alloys. It is therefore essential that the fluids do not promote corrosion of the copper. Many oils and fuels contain sulphur compounds, which can be corrosive to copper. This (IP154) test is performed to ascertain what levels of corrosion or tarnishing occurs when the fluid comes into contact with copper strips in the laboratory.

Flashpoint

Fuels are refined to a flashpoint specification. Flashpoint (ASTM D93) is a measure of the fluid’s volatility and flammability, and refers to the minimum temperature at which there is sufficient vapour to cause a flash when a flame is introduced to the fluid’s vapour and air mixture. For example, contamination with a more volatile fluid will decrease the fluid´s flashpoint.

Diesel fuel should have a flashpoint greater than 52°C.

Sulphur

New emission regulations state that diesel fuel should not contain greater than 1% sulphur. We analyse for this element using ASTM D5185, employing ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Optical Emission Spectrometry) as illustrated.