Applications for Niton Portable Analyzers

Relying solely on time-consuming, off-site testing labs is too risky when personal and public safety is at stake. Whether you need to analyze lead dust wipes to determine the spread of contamination, analyze air filters to help protect workers from airborne exposure to high levels of pollutants, or prevent asbestos exposure, Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzers can provide immediate, definitive, and defensible results.

Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzers are a useful tool for the nondestructive analysis of art and artifacts in a variety of research applications, including archaeological reconnaissance surveying, restoration and provenance, authentication and conservation, NAGPRA compliance, and dating.

With fraudently blending on the rise, quickly determining the value of traded end of life automotive catalysts on site is vitial to avoid substantial financial losses. Thermo Scientific Niton handheld XRF analyzers enable catalyst recyclers to accurately measure the composition of precious metals, including platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh), in spent catalytic converters. Niton portable analyzers' instant, lab-quality analysis provides an effective solution to keep your business profitable and protected.

Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of consumer goods face challenges in meeting stringent regulations regarding permissible levels of lead and other toxic metals in their products. Keeping these hazardous materials out of the supply chains and out of the hands of consumers is of utmost concern as safety audits uncover a growing number of violations. The list of affected products includes toys, jewelry, clothing, furniture, cosmetics, and more.

Thermo Scientific Niton portable analyzers are trusted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the European Union's Product Safety Enforcement Forum (PROSAFE), and other regulatory agencies to screen consumer products for lead and other regulated elements including barium, antimony, selenium, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium. 

Manufacturers of electrical and electronic goods require reliable verification, testing, and screening technologies to help ensure compliance with the Worldwide Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations. An update to the RoHS directive, known as RoHS II, Medical RoHS, or RoHS Recast, addresses the same hazardous substances and maximum concentration limits as the original RoHS directive, but also includes certain medical devices, monitoring and control instruments, and cables. Industry initiatives are also in place to produce halogen-free flame-retardant products, ranging from consumer electronics to furniture. All of these regulations place the burden of due diligence firmly with the brand owners, assembly houses, and PCB manufacturers. 

Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzers have detection limits well below industry-defined thresholds and are highly accurate in the detection of the five commonly found substances prohibited by RoHS, as well as the halogen elements chlorine and bromine.

From hazardous site modeling and risk assessment to on-site contaminant screening and lead paint abatement, decisions must be made quickly to protect workers from exposure to toxins and to minimize the spread of contamination. These unwanted substances might arise from airborne contaminants in filters and dust wipes, lead paint on houses, or soil contamination.

Traditional, lab-based analyses can take weeks to positively identify harmful materials, leaving workers at risk. Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzers can be used in virtually any remediation project and meet all major regulatory requirements, significantly shortening analysis times. They offer maximum performance for the detection and measurement of toxins, including RCRA metals, priority pollutants, and U.S. EPA target analytes. 

Portable XRF analyzers can be utilized in food processing facilities to help identify metal contaminants. A map of the production line and a spectral fingerprint library of potential contaminants can be created by scanning parts and components throughout the line, using a portable XRF analyzer.  After the product inspection equipment rejects a product, the metal contaminant can be analyzed by the same portable XRF analyzer right on the plant floor. 

The cause of rejection can be identified by comparing the contamination ‘fingerprints’ revealed through detection to the XRF analyzer’s library that has been created.  If a match is found, plant personnel will know the source of the problem and can immediately mitigate any issues, whether that means repairing the machine or replacing parts. If there is no match for the contaminant, then there is a probability that there were metal contaminants in the raw materials, so supplies should be thoroughly checked before entering the production process.

Government regulations, such as the U.S. EPA-issued Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, have increased public awareness of the need for lead paint testing. Lead poisoning is a well-known health threat to children but lead exposure can cause serious issues for adults as well, including high blood pressure and dementia. Environmental professionals involved in demolition, renovation, or repair projects are particularly vulnerable to inhaling dust contaminated with lead or other toxins, such as those regulated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzers meet the rigorous demands of lead paint testing. They are supported by an ideal Performance Characteristic Sheet (PCS), address the safe work practices required in many commercial and industrial structures, and have demonstrated proficiency in the ELPAT Program.

The identification and remediation of soil contamination are significant challenges. Toxic metals and other contaminants remain in the soil, potentially harming residents for generations to come. That’s why the U.S. EPA and other regulatory agencies rely on Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzers, from preliminary site investigation to site remediation to clearance testing. Niton analyzers enable the analysis of all 26 elements listed in the U.S. EPA Method 6200 in a single analysis. The non-destructive nature of the test also allows identical samples to be sent to the laboratory for confirmatory testing, as required (5% of all samples per EPA Method 6200).

With more and more foundries and steel manufacturers and fabricators using scrap metal in their raw material mix, it’s important that they know exactly what’s in that pile of metals.  When the exact chemical composition of scrap is uncertain—especially for low alloy/carbon steels and L and H grade steels—quality, safety, and regulatory compliance are at risk. 

Our range of Niton handheld LIBS analyzers and XRF analyzers can be used for verification of metals and alloys in raw materials and finished products. They also work for non-destructive field inspections for material ID, coating and thickness measurements in finished product, or custom applications to meet your process requirements. Designed to return lab-quality results in the field and on the shop floor, handheld elemental analyzers can dramatically increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve quality control.