ProjectSummaryContaminantsDecember2014

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Project concept Sampling and Testing for Physical Contaminants in PAS100 Compost and PAS110 Digestates (OIN008-001) This WRAP funded project is led by Dr Thomas Aspray of Heriot Watt University in collaboration with Dr Mary Dimambro and Dr Joachim Steiner (Cambridge Eco Ltd), Dr Phil Wallace (Phil Wallace Ltd) and Dr Stéphane Pietravalle (Fera). The project will take place during the period December 2014- March 2015. The overall project aim is to improve sampling and testing methodologies related to physical contaminants in quality (PAS100 and PAS110) compost and digestate. The project has four main objectives: 1. To work with a number of composting and AD facilities to determine whether the current sampling methods (specified by the Biofertiliser and Compost Certification Schemes) are sufficiently robust to deliver truly representative results. 2. To work with the Renewable Energy Associate Ltd (REAL) appointed laboratories to understand intra and inter-laboratory variability in physical contaminant results through the testing of materials with known levels of physical contaminants. 3. To work with the REAL appointed laboratories to minimise variability so far as is practicable, across the tested range of contaminants and different substrates. 4. To work with REAL appointed laboratories to understand whether the German approach to film plastics could be adopted in the UK, and at what cost. Objective 1 will be addressed through a combination of site visits and telephone discussions with compost and digestate producers. Objective 2 will be addressed through a statistically robust study, where by samples containing known contamination levels will be analysed by commercial laboratories. Objective 3 will use information gained from the above laboratory work together with commercial laboratory visits to unravel intra and inter-laboratory variability in physical contaminant analysis. Finally, Objective 4 will involve desk based research and in-house laboratory assessment of a potential alternative method for film plastics quantification based on area rather than weight determination. For further details please contact Dr Thomas Aspray ([email protected]).

Transcript of ProjectSummaryContaminantsDecember2014

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Project concept Sampling and Testing for Physical Contaminants in

PAS100 Compost and PAS110 Digestates (OIN008-001)

This WRAP funded project is led by Dr Thomas Aspray of Heriot Watt University in collaboration with Dr Mary Dimambro and Dr Joachim Steiner (Cambridge Eco Ltd), Dr Phil Wallace (Phil Wallace Ltd) and Dr Stéphane Pietravalle (Fera). The project will take place during the period December 2014-March 2015. The overall project aim is to improve sampling and testing methodologies related to physical contaminants in quality (PAS100 and PAS110) compost and digestate. The project has four main objectives:

1. To work with a number of composting and AD facilities to determine whether the current

sampling methods (specified by the Biofertiliser and Compost Certification Schemes) are

sufficiently robust to deliver truly representative results.

2. To work with the Renewable Energy Associate Ltd (REAL) appointed laboratories to

understand intra and inter-laboratory variability in physical contaminant results through the

testing of materials with known levels of physical contaminants.

3. To work with the REAL appointed laboratories to minimise variability so far as is practicable,

across the tested range of contaminants and different substrates.

4. To work with REAL appointed laboratories to understand whether the German approach to

film plastics could be adopted in the UK, and at what cost.

Objective 1 will be addressed through a combination of site visits and telephone discussions with compost and digestate producers. Objective 2 will be addressed through a statistically robust study, where by samples containing known contamination levels will be analysed by commercial laboratories. Objective 3 will use information gained from the above laboratory work together with commercial laboratory visits to unravel intra and inter-laboratory variability in physical contaminant analysis. Finally, Objective 4 will involve desk based research and in-house laboratory assessment of a potential alternative method for film plastics quantification based on area rather than weight determination. For further details please contact Dr Thomas Aspray ([email protected]).