Element to showcase groundbreaking monitoring instrumentation for emerging pollutants at ESS Expo

As environmental legislation intensifies, Element Materials Technology (“Element”) is returning to ESS Expo 2025 to demonstrate how businesses can meet tightening regulations and monitor for emerging pollutants.

Taking place at the NEC in Birmingham between 17-18 September, this year’s ESS Expo will be a critical platform for addressing key environmental challenges. These include evolving PFAS regulations in line with the heightened scrutiny of incineration emissions which is affecting many sectors including the energy-from-waste (EfW) sector.

With stricter rules for new waste incinerators announced late in 2024, new plants now need to be carbon-capture ready. Meanwhile, Emissions Limit Values are expected to tighten as the journey toward net zero continues, and pollution in air, soil, and water are rising concerns in the public domain.

To support EfW businesses comply with the latest legislation, Element, the world leaders in testing, inspection and certification services, will join the conversation at this year’s exhibition, bringing insights into how testing services can help facilities navigate mounting environmental permit conditions.

At stand CLR-O105, the highlight of Element’s exhibition will be its state-of-the-art Selective Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) instrumentation, which offers real-time, low-level emissions measurements for organic gases such as nitrosamines and PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ across a wide range of industrial applications.

Element’s mobile SIFT-MS instrumentation allows businesses to pinpoint hazardous gas concentrations at places such as landfills, wastewater treatment plants and within stacks, optimising their site’s processes. Critically, the SIFT-MS is a key industry development as it can monitor for ever-lower emissions limits that existing monitoring equipment is not optimised to test for.

Alongside witnessing the SIFT-MS instrumentation in action, visitors can consult with Element’s experts on their specific monitoring needs. This includes stack emissions testing to ISO 17025 accredited laboratory analysis, and workplace and worker safety.

Mark Elliott, Technical Manager at Element Materials Technology, said: “We know businesses across all industries are facing a myriad of challenges when it comes to environmental compliance. This is especially the case with accelerating change in emissions monitoring for EfW companies. The challenges with measuring trace levels of existing and emerging pollutants of interest is more prevalent. The cost of non-compliance is steep in this sector: regulatory fines, reputational damage, and risks to community health.

“That’s why we’re excited to be back at ESS Expo, to support operators adapt to a shifting legislative landscape. Our SIFT-MS solution is one such way for businesses to stay on top of so-called forever chemicals and new pollutants produced from carbon capture techniques. Our Deeside laboratory is also constantly developing to stay ahead of industry developments, and with one of the largest testing and analysis teams across the UK, we’re poised to support these new demands. Meanwhile, our team at the exhibition will be on hand to consult on real-world scenarios such as how to maintain occupational hygiene standards and reinforce worker safety in high-risk sites.”