Fast Cadmium Analysis in Plastics and Polymers With SPECTRO XEPOS
As a reaction to the EU directives for end-of-life vehicles and also for waste electrical and electronic equipment, which are to be made into federal law in the EU member states within 18 months after their publication (expected in first quarter of 2003), SPECTRO has developed a solution for heavy-metal analysis.
The energy-dispersive XRF system SPECTRO XEPOS has proven to be the ideal instrument for determining cadmium, lead, mercury, and chromium at the limits set for ELV and at the still-to-be-set limits for WEEE. The achieved average detection limit for Cd for measurements of granulated plastic polymers is 8 ppm. Thus, XEPOS can measure comfortably below the limit (100 ppm) set by the ELV directive. Limits can also be optimally monitored for lead, mercury, and chromium. Thanks to the SPECTRO proprietary polarization technology, the limits of detection for individual elements are improved by a factor of 4-7 versus conventional ED-XRF spectromters.
The SPECTRO XEPOS performs a complete multi-element analysis for the heavy metals listed in the directives within 500 seconds and a cadmium-only analysis within 300 seconds. Sample preparation is simple: the material only has to be ground up and then measured as a bulk material.
SPECTRO envisions the fields of application for the XEPOS system to also include, in addition to the automotive industry and their suppliers, the electronics industry, cable importers, compounders, as well as the recycling industry.
Other news from the department research and development
Get the chemical industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for the chemical industry, analytics, lab technology and process engineering brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.
