Award for new way to test contaminants

ALS Environmental was awarded the inaugural CARE Award for sustainable environmental technologies by CRC CARE Managing Director Professor Ravi Naidu for introducing a new technology.

Pollutants such as TPH,TRH, PAH and phenols and other semivolatile compounds in water can now be tested using lower sample volumes as a result of an evolutionary method development by ALS.

The new methodology also decreases waste and greenhouse emissions, and improves manual handling considerations across the industry.

“This is an exceptional piece of technology that is going to make the task of contaminant identification and clean-up a whole lot easier,” said Prof Naidu. “We felt it was a fitting winner of the inaugural CARE Award.”

“Testing for these contaminants previously required one litre of sample, which has its disadvantages,” says Kieren Burns, an Environmental Services Representative for ALS.

“These large samples often contained a high concentration of sediments, which can impact the quality of the results - often resulting in the reporting of slight false positives.”

Over the last six years, ALS has progressively refined the technology and its methodology, to accommodate lower sample volumes without compromising quality and detection levels. “With a lower sample volume, the total amount of solvent required can be cut by up to 90%. Glassware usage and waste can be reduced by 70%.”

Burns explained that the concept of reducing sampling volumes came about from observing field and laboratory receipt staff moving large eskies and also listening to field sampler feedback on the difficulty of obtaining samples from low recharge wells.

“Instead of pumping and moving 10 L of liquid from 10 locations, field staff can now sample 10 wells and carry only 1 L. Not having to sample such large volumes also means that the fieldwork can be performed more efficiently, reducing consultant time and costs.”

The company was awarded a $10,000 cash prize and a unique, hand-crafted glass trophy.