System configurations for determination of hazardous substances

In order to enforce the substances ban and the limitation or substitution of hazardous substances such as mercury, cadmium and lead, elemental analysis is obviously the most important control measure for monitoring limiting values. This requires precise analytical systems such as X-ray fluorescence, ICP and atomic absorption spectrometers. These instruments are able to detect trace concentrations of hazardous substances – for example cadmium, using an atomic absorption spectrometer in the flame atomisation mode up to 0.1 mg/L, or using the digital graphite furnace for electrothermal atomisation even up to 0.1 m g/L.

For the determination of hexavalent chromium, UV-VIS spectrometry is the method of choice and can be carried out quickly and easily using a routine spectrophotometer such as UVmini-1240. Polybrominated biphenyls as well as polybrominated diphenyl ethers are analysed using FTIR spectrometers such as the IRPrestige-21 or in the lower concentration range with GCMS systems (QP2010).