Energy-dispersive spectrometry system is sensitive enough to easily detect Cd levels required under EU directives for disposal of vehicles and electrical and electronic waste
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 8ppm.
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 polarisation technology, the limits of detection for individual elements are improved by a factor of 4-7 versus conventional ED-XRF spectrometers.
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.
In the past, cadmium was used as a pigment and stabiliser.
Cadmium still appears in high concentrations when recycling old equipment with long service lives and also in overseas imports.
