ANALYTICAL SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

 

The Analytical Services and Environmental Projects Unit (ASEP)

is a commercial organisation operating within the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in The Queen's University of Belfast. The unit has offered a wide range of analytical services to industry for many years and has developed particular expertise in the area of environmental monitoring. The unit evolved out of the internal analytical laboratory necessary to service the Chemistry Department. From that starting point, it has developed to its present position, where the majority of its work is for external clients.

The unit is under the direction of Chris Hardacre. Currently it employs seven staff and has access to a further five members of the departmental staff on a part-time basis. Members of the academic staff are available for consultation on an ad hoc basis.

The Technical Director of ASEP, Robin Patrick, had many years industrial experience before joining the unit. Both he and the Unit Manager, Trevor Sewell, have a keen appreciation of the demands and requirements of industry and the unit prides itself on it's rapid and efficient response to customers' requirements.

ASEP has built up a country-wide reputation by offering a fast, flexible and efficient service. The Unit's facilities are used by both industry and local authorities. For example, Donegal County Council has appointed Mr Sewell as a deputy and Yamanouchi Ireland Co Ltd, the European Environment Award winners for 1991, use the unit for independent monthly monitoring of all emissions from their Damastown site.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY

Much of the work which the unit undertakes is of a very sensitive nature. This is particularly so in the environmental field. The unit has built up an unimpeachable reputation over the years both in terms of the quality and the confidentiality of its work.

 

INDEPENDENCE

The increasing public awareness of environmental issues means that there is an urgent need for reliable data, properly set in context, to allow for informed discussion. Often very emotive arguments can arise in the absence of reliable data.

While the scientific integrity of semi-state bodies is beyond question, they are not always seen by the public as necessarily independent. For example, in arguments over planning approval for new chemical plant their opinion may be perceived as supporting other state bodies.

Similarly, a company involved in an environmental issue may be perfectly capable of providing relevant analytical data. However such data are unlikely to be perceived by the public as anything other than biased.

ASEP, with the name of the University behind it, is seen to be clearly independent and is often asked to monitor in areas of potential dispute precisely because of that independence.

 

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Increasingly stringent legislation is being introduced in the general area of the environment and it's protection and it has become clear that there is a need for help in interpreting the relevance of such legislation to a given situation. With its direct experience in the field, the Unit is ideally placed to provide advice and guidance on the impact, scope and significance of such legislation.

 

RESPONSE

The unit offers a 24 hour emergency call-out and priority monitoring service as required. Although part of the University, the unit responds to clients' needs and it is not unusual for ASEP staff to work round the clock if the need arises.

ANALYTICAL FACILITIES

The unit can provide experience and expertise in the full range of modern analytical techniques including the following.

 

 

 

SAMPLING

The Unit has extensive sampling experience, applying standard protocols where appropriate and often developing it's own approach to unique or difficult situations

• BCURA assembly for stack particulate
• high and low flow intrinsically safe pumps
• adsorption tubes and impinger assemblies for volatile organics
• filter assemblies for particulates
• combustion efficiency monitor

 

Staff are fully trained and experienced in all aspects of sampling, which is controlled by the Unit's Standard Operating Procedures.

The range of sampling undertaken includes

• stack and process vent emissions
• fugitive emissions
• background and perimeter monitoring
• soil and water courses
• personal sampling

EXPERIENCE

The unit has an extensive client list throughout the UK and Ireland (see appended list) and has worked on a very wide range of analytical problems. The following examples are noteworthy.

• Study of the impact of an industrial discharge on the chemistry of the Lower Shannon Estuary.
• Monitoring of air emissions from bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing plants.
• Monitoring of air emissions from fine chemical manufacturing plants.
• Assessment and quantification of various aqueous and solid waste products from industrial waste sites.
• Quantification of air emissions from a cyano-acrylate adhesive manufacturer.
• PCB monitoring on a redevelopment site.
• COSHH assessments for various clients including a light engineering company and an adhesive tape manufacturer.
• Isocyanate monitoring at a belt manufacturer.
• Monitoring packaging materials for residual CFCs.
• Dioxin monitoring.
• Incineration analysis for several hospitals and local authorities.
• Monitoring of stack emissions from various manufacturing operations.
• Effluent discharge monitoring from fuel storage terminals.
• Site clearance of contaminated land.

CURRENT PROJECTS

ASEP is currently involved in a wide range of projects which include the following.

Water: Sampling Analysis of fresh water, saline and effluent Soil: Sampling Spillages Nutrients Pharmaceuticals: Q.C. Trials Construction: Cement Chloride Sulphate, etc Fuel: Coal/coke Oil Spillages Volatile Organics: Perimeter monitoring Stack monitoring Personal monitoring Dust: Perimeter monitoring Stack monitoring personal monitoring.

CLIENTS

ASEP has worked for a great many clients, some of whom are listed below.

• Aer Lingus, Dublin
• Aspinwall, Environmental Consultants, Swindon, Wiltshire
• Aughinish Alumina Ltd, Askeaton, Co Limerick.
• Bairdwear Ltd, Bangor, Co Down.
• Bimeda Ltd, Tallaght, Dublin.
• Bombardier PLC, Belfast.
• Bray Chemical Company, Bray, Co Wicklow
• Calor Ltd, Belfast
• Environment Service, Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
• Donegal County Council
• Dublin County Council
• Du Pont (UK) Ltd, Maydown, Co Londonderry,
• ESSO Petroleum, Belfast.
• Fokker Ltd, Holland.
• Helsinn Chemicals Company, Dublin
• Hickson, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.
• Hyster Ltd, Portadown, Co Armagh.
• Kent Plastics, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
• Leo Laboratories, Dublin
• Longford County Council
• McGhan Ltd, Arklow, Co Wicklow
• National Pen, Dundalk, Co Louth
• Norbrook Laboratories Ltd, Newry, Co Down.
• Nortel, Monkstown, Co Antrim
• P&O Ferries, Cairnryan, Scotland.
• Roadstone Provinces
• Schering Plough (Avondale) Chemical Company, Rathdrum Co Wicklow
• Shell Oil, Belfast.
• Univet Ltd, Coote Hill Co Monaghan
• Yamanouchi Ireland Co Ltd, Dublin