Performance improvement and assay area enlargement of environmental analysis laboratory by infrastructure modernization, EDILAM – 85CP/I/13.09.2007

• development of ICIA’s research capacities by the development of a new field of the Environmental Analysis Laboratory: characterization and management of environmental wastes;
• enlargment of the research activities and increase of the capacity to apply for the European founds;
• the diversification of the research services offered by the Environmental Analysis Laboratory that is already accredited according to ISO 17025 : 2005 and offers competent research services in environmental protection field due to its large experience gained by the participation to numerous national and international research projects;
• the enhancement of research in the field of analytical chemistry by development of high tech methods;
• participation to international research projects that study the control of environmental factors and waste management;
• acces of a large number of specialist to performing research equipments

• environment analysis laboratory developed with a new component: waste management;
• documentation for technical endowment;
• laboratory arranged according to national and international normative;
• performing equipments purchased;
• trained personnel;
• work instruction / functioning regulation for the new equipments;
• promoting materials: web page;
• demonstrative meetings for promoting.

ICIA CLUJ-NAPOCA

• Inductive coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES): it is used for the multielemntal determination of metals in trace and ultra-trace, in different solutions. This methods is applied according to standard SR EN ISO 11885:2004. The method, extremely little used in Romania, has major advantages on classic methods for the determination of metals from water: flame atomic absorption or grafit furnace, because its multielemental detection with high productivity. Thus, in 1-3 minutes, according to different constructive types, it could be analyzed 70 elements simultaneous from a single sample. In atomic absorption it is necessary emission lamps for every element and it could be determined one element at the time, in the sample, but in atomic emission spectrometry introduced in a inductive coupled plasma, constitute the emission source, and every atomic species has wavelenghts well defined at which emit radiation, it coul be easily identified by use of optical systems of separation and detection. Other advantages for ICP-AES from atomic absorption methods are: absence of matrix effects because high plasma temperature 4000-10000 K, working range 7 magnitude orders, it could be measured in the same time and in the same sample, without dillutions, concentrations about µg/L and hundreds mg/L. In our institute has been built and analyticaly characterized the first ICP-AES from Romania, in the year 1983.
• Mercury analyzer by atomic fluorescence spectrometry: it is used to determine mercury in very low concentrations, with a detection limit under 0.5 ng/L, which cannot be obtained by an other technique. The methods is performed according to standard SR EN 1483:2003 and is applied in every countries from European Union. Mercury has the lowest maximum admitted limit among every monitorized elements, because its high toxicity, that is why it is necessary to use a techniques with very good analytical performances. In atomic fuorescence spectrometry it is mewasured the fluorescence emitted by the sample. For the excitement of mercury atoms in the sample, it is used a lamp with high energy mercury vapour, giving extremely high sensibility.
• Spectrophotometer in Ultraviolet and Visible: it is used for the spectrophotometric determination of many pollutants in liquid or brought in liquid solution samples. The method is very usual and it could apply for the determination of ammonia, cyanides, fluorides for the waste characterization.
• Analyzer for adsorbable organic halides (AOX), it could perform very efficient analyses indicating the quantity of clorinated organic compunds from the waste leachates. The method is applied according to SR EN 1485:2000, for the leachates analysis and for the potable water samples analysis also, the compulsory analysis in EU countries. By use of this equiment it could determine the total organic halogens(TOX), an important analysys in waste characterization. The method is based on organic compounds absorption on active carbon, followed by combustion which assure their transformation in hydrogeno-halides, and their concentrations is determined by coulometric micro titration, the instrument indicating the biamperometric current.
• Anlyzer for the total organic carbon (TOC) determination: according to SR EN 1484:2001. The method’s principle, in carbon analysis case, is the catalitic combustion of the sample in oxigen current at 1000?C, and the obtained carbon dioxide is analyzed by a infrared detector. There are equipments which can analyze TOC and also total nitrogen, TN.

The main users of project’s results are: research-development department from Romania, local, regional and national administrations directly involved in decisional process and which are interested in knowing the actual situation of environment quality, productive commercial companies, for the evaluation and the control of pollutant concentrations which they generate, to reduce them; specialty structures of EU; also academic staff from universities, interested in promoting new analysis methods.

• Research-development field: by the finalization of the project it will be allowed the performance has a distinct importance at local, regional and national level, because it will permit to carry out researches to elaborate and implement new analysis methods highly accurate in the environment quality assessment and waste characterization fields, in an accredited laboratory. It will be developed and validated standardized methods, which will be recognized at European and international level. It will be offered consulting and training services in the environment protection field, and analysis methods based on high performance techniques: ICP-AES, TOC, AOX, mercury analyzer, spectrophotometry, ion-chromatography, electrochemical methods. The main purpose of the project is to support the research activity in ICIA, by the use of high performance analysis methods in national and international subsequent projects.
• Education field: specialists and academic staff from different areas: analytical chemistry, environment from country and abroad; students, MSc, PhD students from country and abroad will be able to access the created technical basis;
• Economy: commercial companies for the assessment and control of pollutants concentration which they generate;
• Ministry of Environment and Durable Development: on the basis of obtained results, it will be possible to elaborate scientific strategic programs.

Access

Access: Monday – Friday, between 8.00 – 16.00 hours

The access is permitted according the conventions with the partners, and analyses customers respectively.

CS II Ing. MIRCEA CHINTOANU, Director ICIA
Tel. 0264-420.590
Fax. 0264-420.667
Email. mircea.chintoanu@icia.ro

CS II dr. CECILIA ROMAN, Director proiect
Tel. 0264-420.590
Fax. 0264-420.667
Email. cecilia.roman@icia.ro