Out of the Crucible Newsletter

CSR ACHIEVEMENTS

RARE EARTHS TESTING

In August, the lab organized and raised nearly $1500.00 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation by riding the Heart & Stroke Big Bike.

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE? If you are unable to answer this question, there are simple and inexpensive options to ensure you are not in danger of drinking contaminated water.

Testing can be conducted on water from the city or a privately-owned well in a rural setting, as well as a larger company or organization. Read our latest white paper on water testing on our new website (www.src.sk.ca) in the Environmental Analytical Laboratories section. n

SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories offers an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) rare earth metals scan. The scan includes fourteen lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) plus scandium and yttrium.

Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earth elements (REEs) because they are usually found in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides and have similar chemical properties.

In nature, most REEs are not as uncommon as their name would have you believe. The problem is that the elements are scattered and not found in concentrated deposits, which makes it more economically challenging to mine these sites.

REEs are essential in the manufacturing of many high-tech products such as laptops, smartphones and LCDs. They are also a necessary component in many of the green technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and batteries for hybrid cars.

With modern technology changing, the demand for these high-tech applications has increased, raising profile and demand for REEs. China supplies 97 per cent of the world’s rare earth needs and with world demand exceeding what China can supply, other global markets will likely develop.

Please contact the laboratory for further information. n

SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories Newsletter

Holiday Greetings to Our Clients and Friends NEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTS Particle Size Analyzer SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories has purchased and installed a new particle size analyzer with the aqueous liquids module. The purchase of this unit means that the labs clients will experience quicker turnaround times (TAT) for particle size analysis.

The analyzer uses laser light scattering to determine size distribution of particles in samples by measuring intensity patterns. This is a much less labour intensive method than the pipette and sieve technique which not only decreases TAT but also provides more consistent results that are highly reproducible.

Microwave The lab has also purchased and installed a new boxtype microwave unit from CEM. The new unit complements the other microwave units in the lab and

FIND THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND YOU COULD WIN A $50 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE 1. What two elements may cause your water to be discoloured?

Email your answers to analytical@src.sk.ca and include your: Name Company Name E-mail address Phone number Be sure to include “December Contest” in the Subject Line Contest closes December 20, 2012 For complete contest rules go to http://src.nu/drawrules

2. What is the first phase of root cause analysis?

3. What new equipment has the lab purchased this year: A Particle Size Analyzer B Freeze Dryer C Microwave D All of the above

will provide increased capacity and quicker TAT for clients. Similar to other microwave units in the lab, the new CEM microwave oven is used with pressurized

Freeze Dryer In early 2012, the lab purchased a freeze dry system.

Freeze drying is a process whereby water or other solvent is removed from frozen material by converting the frozen water directly into vapour without the intermediate formation of liquid water. The basis for this sublimation process involves the absorption of heat by the frozen sample in order to vaporize the ice, the use of a vacuum pump to enhance removal of water vapour from the surface of the sample, the transfer of water vapour to a collector and the removal of heat by the collector in order to condense the water vapour. In essence, the freeze dry process is a balance between the heat absorbed by the sample to vaporize the ice and the heat removed from the collector to convert the water vapour into ice. The lab will use the freeze dryer for certain samples or analysis or upon client request. Contact the lab if you have any questions regarding freeze drying.

Mercury Analyser Mercury is a potent toxin that is found throughout the environment. Chronic exposure to mercury can have devastating consequences owing to its neurological effects. A particular concern with mercury is the impact of bioaccumulation. For example, trace concentrations of mercury within a lake can accumulate in the fish raising mercury concentrations to levels that could potentially lead to chronic mercury continued on page 2

4

OBIE

sample cells and acids to facilitate quick, clean digestions of solid samples, including soil, sediments, fish flesh, fish bones and vegetation.

Lab Mascot

DECEMBER 2012

Table of Contents NEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTS

1

CHOOSING AN ANALYTICAL LAB

2

NEW WHEAT LAB COLLABORATION

2

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

3

SRC SCIENTIST WINS NATIONAL AWARD 3 NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED

3

24/7 SAMPLE DROP-OFF

3

CSR ACHIEVEMENTS

4

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE?

4

RARE EARTHS TESTING

4

ENTER TO WIN

4

SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories 102 - 422 Downey Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4N1 T: 306-933-6932 Toll-free: 1-800-240-8808 F: 306-933-7922

www.src.sk.ca/analytical

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

New equipment and tests from page 1

exposure. Environmental agencies have often issued advisories against eating too much fish from certain water bodies or even against specific types of fish.

The lab has used the Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence (CVAF) technique for determining mercury for many years. Since even very low levels of mercury can have a devastating effect due to bioaccumulation, there has been increasing demand to see lower and lower detection limits. Although CVAF is a sensitive technique, the lab can also determine mercury via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ICP-MS technique can see slightly lower limits than CVAF, but in some samples there can be interferences due to other elements with similar isotopic mass.

The CVAF technique can be enhanced to gain even more sensitivity. The mercury vapour generated during the first part of the analysis is collected by forming an amalgam with gold. Afterwards, the amalgam is heated to release the mercury vapour which is then detected by the fluorescence detector. The formation of the amalgam effectively eliminates interferences and enhances the instrument signal by concentrating the mercury from the sample.

The lab is in the process of installing a new CVAF mercury analyzer equipped with gold amalgam capability. The instrument should be installed before the end of the year and we anticipate we will be able to complete method development and start generating results using the new technique early in the new year. n

CHOOSING AN ANALYTICAL LAB Choosing the correct lab to conduct your environmental analysis can be the difference between useful results or wasted resources. What matters most for your analysis?

•Safety •Quality and accreditation •Expertise •Price •Turnaround times These determining factors can impact the reports you are creating for your clients. All of us want to ensure that our employees, families and communities are working and living in a safe environment. You want to choose a lab that is accredited for the specific tests you need. This will ensure that you receive reliable sample results.

What happens when you have an unusual sample result? Lab expertise is invaluable in solving your questions to ensure you are meeting your client requirements.

Value for price is essential in forming a responsible business decision. You and your clients have set timelines for reporting and regulations. Lab turnaround times are critical in the work you do.

Here at SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories, we take your business seriously. Operating in a safe environment is our overriding priority. The lab is CALA ISO 17025 accredited with more than 90 accredited methods for 420 different parameters in our scope. We are continually reviewing your analytical requirements to ensure we are providing you with quality results. The management team has more than 150 years of combined experience working with samples, both sample prep and analysis. We pride ourselves on doing our best for you each day. Pricing is critical for our business. We want to ensure that you receive value for our services. The lab provides a five-day turnaround time for standard testing. We understand that your work is time-sensitive and impacts your business processes.

We are here to help you solve your analytical challenges. We believe that our services will help you meet your client needs in a timely and effective manner. Your feedback is important to us, and we value your input.

Together, our team will assist you in meeting your company needs. n

2

NEW WHEAT LAB COLLABORATION

Despite our best efforts and most stringent controls, non-conformances still occur. It is what we do after the non-conformance happens that is of utmost importance.

What is a non-conformance?

A non-conformance is defined by the International Association for Standardization (ISO) as a non-fulfillment of a requirement. Some examples are the failure of resources to meet specified requirements, the failure of personnel to comply with documented work instructions and the failure of test data to meet required standards.

When is Root Cause Analysis required?

Root Cause Analysis is not always required to address the non-conformance. It is only required when the nonconformance is deemed to be significant. Examples of significant events are the validity of a test, a personal injury occurs, a breach of confidentiality, damage to the facility or any event where the risk of recurrence is high and the consequences are severe.

How is Root Cause Analysis performed?

The first phase of root cause analysis is to gather information. Information can be gathered several ways, including interviewing employees with first-hand knowledge of the non-conformance, reviewing procedural documents as well as the reference method, reviewing raw data and performing a process walkthrough.

The second phase of Root Cause Analysis is data analysis and root cause identification. One basic, yet in-depth, way to determine the root cause is the five whys analysis. Keep asking “Why?” until a logical root cause is found.

More than one root cause is often determined.

The last phase is to develop a Corrective Action Plan. The purpose of the plan is to determine a solution that will prevent the problem from recurring, or at least reduce the number of recurrences and severity of consequences. The plan must lay out the steps needed to correct the non-conformance, responsibilities and the time frame in which the steps will be implemented.

It is important to follow up on the corrective action to ensure that the steps taken were effective in eliminating or reducing the non-conformance. n

SRC SCIENTIST WINS NATIONAL AWARD Environmental Analytical Laboratories and SRC’s new Crop Evaluation Lab have teamed together to provide you with a comprehensive package for agricultural product testing. Our labs offer analytical services to farmers, grain industry and research programs. The package includes analysis for pesticides, herbicides, trace metals and radioactivity, in addition to grain grading, mycotoxin, falling number and other quality parameters. SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories is accredited

by CALA according to ISO 17025, and the Crop Evaluation Lab is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab.

Both labs support the Canadian quality control system ensuring the buyers of Canadian grains with quality results. n

Congratulations to Dr. Wo Yuen on receiving the Don LaBerge Award, presented at CALA’s (Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation) Annual General Meeting in Toronto on June 12. Dr. Yuen retired from SRC last year, but continues to consult with SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories, where he worked for 31 years.

This award recognizes lifetime achievement and commitment in volunteering time and expertise to the work of CALA. Dr. Yuen has been a CALA assessor for the past 19 years, a member of the CALA Program Committee, President of the Board of Directors and is currently a member of the CALA advisory panel. n

3

MEET THE NEW FACE OF SRC

www.src.sk.ca SRC is celebrating its 65th year with a complete website makeover to reflect its growth and future aspirations. We have overhauled our website to improve navigation and make it more engaging.

You’ll see things have changed – a lot.

As we expand our services into new industries, crossing geographical boundaries and spreading our expertise worldwide, we want it to be easy for you to reach us and learn more about what we do.

The new website features: • An updated Environmental Analytical Laboratories webpage • The Environmental Analytical Laboratories Price Guide • Our Chain of Custody – please note that we can customize this template to meet your needs • Career and business opportunities • A Multimedia webpage to find photos and videos profiling our services, experts and projects Please let us know if you have any issues while using the site. We recommend re-bookmarking any SRC webpages you had previously bookmarked. n

24/7 SAMPLE DROP-OFF We realize that it can be difficult to arrange sample delivery during normal business hours, therefore, effective immediately, arrangements can be made to drop off samples any time of the day, seven days a week. It’s as simple as contacting us to receive your own unique code to gain access to our secure drop-off location.

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

New equipment and tests from page 1

exposure. Environmental agencies have often issued advisories against eating too much fish from certain water bodies or even against specific types of fish.

The lab has used the Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence (CVAF) technique for determining mercury for many years. Since even very low levels of mercury can have a devastating effect due to bioaccumulation, there has been increasing demand to see lower and lower detection limits. Although CVAF is a sensitive technique, the lab can also determine mercury via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ICP-MS technique can see slightly lower limits than CVAF, but in some samples there can be interferences due to other elements with similar isotopic mass.

The CVAF technique can be enhanced to gain even more sensitivity. The mercury vapour generated during the first part of the analysis is collected by forming an amalgam with gold. Afterwards, the amalgam is heated to release the mercury vapour which is then detected by the fluorescence detector. The formation of the amalgam effectively eliminates interferences and enhances the instrument signal by concentrating the mercury from the sample.

The lab is in the process of installing a new CVAF mercury analyzer equipped with gold amalgam capability. The instrument should be installed before the end of the year and we anticipate we will be able to complete method development and start generating results using the new technique early in the new year. n

CHOOSING AN ANALYTICAL LAB Choosing the correct lab to conduct your environmental analysis can be the difference between useful results or wasted resources. What matters most for your analysis?

•Safety •Quality and accreditation •Expertise •Price •Turnaround times These determining factors can impact the reports you are creating for your clients. All of us want to ensure that our employees, families and communities are working and living in a safe environment. You want to choose a lab that is accredited for the specific tests you need. This will ensure that you receive reliable sample results.

What happens when you have an unusual sample result? Lab expertise is invaluable in solving your questions to ensure you are meeting your client requirements.

Value for price is essential in forming a responsible business decision. You and your clients have set timelines for reporting and regulations. Lab turnaround times are critical in the work you do.

Here at SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories, we take your business seriously. Operating in a safe environment is our overriding priority. The lab is CALA ISO 17025 accredited with more than 90 accredited methods for 420 different parameters in our scope. We are continually reviewing your analytical requirements to ensure we are providing you with quality results. The management team has more than 150 years of combined experience working with samples, both sample prep and analysis. We pride ourselves on doing our best for you each day. Pricing is critical for our business. We want to ensure that you receive value for our services. The lab provides a five-day turnaround time for standard testing. We understand that your work is time-sensitive and impacts your business processes.

We are here to help you solve your analytical challenges. We believe that our services will help you meet your client needs in a timely and effective manner. Your feedback is important to us, and we value your input.

Together, our team will assist you in meeting your company needs. n

2

NEW WHEAT LAB COLLABORATION

Despite our best efforts and most stringent controls, non-conformances still occur. It is what we do after the non-conformance happens that is of utmost importance.

What is a non-conformance?

A non-conformance is defined by the International Association for Standardization (ISO) as a non-fulfillment of a requirement. Some examples are the failure of resources to meet specified requirements, the failure of personnel to comply with documented work instructions and the failure of test data to meet required standards.

When is Root Cause Analysis required?

Root Cause Analysis is not always required to address the non-conformance. It is only required when the nonconformance is deemed to be significant. Examples of significant events are the validity of a test, a personal injury occurs, a breach of confidentiality, damage to the facility or any event where the risk of recurrence is high and the consequences are severe.

How is Root Cause Analysis performed?

The first phase of root cause analysis is to gather information. Information can be gathered several ways, including interviewing employees with first-hand knowledge of the non-conformance, reviewing procedural documents as well as the reference method, reviewing raw data and performing a process walkthrough.

The second phase of Root Cause Analysis is data analysis and root cause identification. One basic, yet in-depth, way to determine the root cause is the five whys analysis. Keep asking “Why?” until a logical root cause is found.

More than one root cause is often determined.

The last phase is to develop a Corrective Action Plan. The purpose of the plan is to determine a solution that will prevent the problem from recurring, or at least reduce the number of recurrences and severity of consequences. The plan must lay out the steps needed to correct the non-conformance, responsibilities and the time frame in which the steps will be implemented.

It is important to follow up on the corrective action to ensure that the steps taken were effective in eliminating or reducing the non-conformance. n

SRC SCIENTIST WINS NATIONAL AWARD Environmental Analytical Laboratories and SRC’s new Crop Evaluation Lab have teamed together to provide you with a comprehensive package for agricultural product testing. Our labs offer analytical services to farmers, grain industry and research programs. The package includes analysis for pesticides, herbicides, trace metals and radioactivity, in addition to grain grading, mycotoxin, falling number and other quality parameters. SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories is accredited

by CALA according to ISO 17025, and the Crop Evaluation Lab is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab.

Both labs support the Canadian quality control system ensuring the buyers of Canadian grains with quality results. n

Congratulations to Dr. Wo Yuen on receiving the Don LaBerge Award, presented at CALA’s (Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation) Annual General Meeting in Toronto on June 12. Dr. Yuen retired from SRC last year, but continues to consult with SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories, where he worked for 31 years.

This award recognizes lifetime achievement and commitment in volunteering time and expertise to the work of CALA. Dr. Yuen has been a CALA assessor for the past 19 years, a member of the CALA Program Committee, President of the Board of Directors and is currently a member of the CALA advisory panel. n

3

MEET THE NEW FACE OF SRC

www.src.sk.ca SRC is celebrating its 65th year with a complete website makeover to reflect its growth and future aspirations. We have overhauled our website to improve navigation and make it more engaging.

You’ll see things have changed – a lot.

As we expand our services into new industries, crossing geographical boundaries and spreading our expertise worldwide, we want it to be easy for you to reach us and learn more about what we do.

The new website features: • An updated Environmental Analytical Laboratories webpage • The Environmental Analytical Laboratories Price Guide • Our Chain of Custody – please note that we can customize this template to meet your needs • Career and business opportunities • A Multimedia webpage to find photos and videos profiling our services, experts and projects Please let us know if you have any issues while using the site. We recommend re-bookmarking any SRC webpages you had previously bookmarked. n

24/7 SAMPLE DROP-OFF We realize that it can be difficult to arrange sample delivery during normal business hours, therefore, effective immediately, arrangements can be made to drop off samples any time of the day, seven days a week. It’s as simple as contacting us to receive your own unique code to gain access to our secure drop-off location.

CSR ACHIEVEMENTS

RARE EARTHS TESTING

In August, the lab organized and raised nearly $1500.00 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation by riding the Heart & Stroke Big Bike.

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE? If you are unable to answer this question, there are simple and inexpensive options to ensure you are not in danger of drinking contaminated water.

Testing can be conducted on water from the city or a privately-owned well in a rural setting, as well as a larger company or organization. Read our latest white paper on water testing on our new website (www.src.sk.ca) in the Environmental Analytical Laboratories section. n

SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories offers an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) rare earth metals scan. The scan includes fourteen lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) plus scandium and yttrium.

Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earth elements (REEs) because they are usually found in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides and have similar chemical properties.

In nature, most REEs are not as uncommon as their name would have you believe. The problem is that the elements are scattered and not found in concentrated deposits, which makes it more economically challenging to mine these sites.

REEs are essential in the manufacturing of many high-tech products such as laptops, smartphones and LCDs. They are also a necessary component in many of the green technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and batteries for hybrid cars.

With modern technology changing, the demand for these high-tech applications has increased, raising profile and demand for REEs. China supplies 97 per cent of the world’s rare earth needs and with world demand exceeding what China can supply, other global markets will likely develop.

Please contact the laboratory for further information. n

SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories Newsletter

Holiday Greetings to Our Clients and Friends NEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTS Particle Size Analyzer SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories has purchased and installed a new particle size analyzer with the aqueous liquids module. The purchase of this unit means that the labs clients will experience quicker turnaround times (TAT) for particle size analysis.

The analyzer uses laser light scattering to determine size distribution of particles in samples by measuring intensity patterns. This is a much less labour intensive method than the pipette and sieve technique which not only decreases TAT but also provides more consistent results that are highly reproducible.

Microwave The lab has also purchased and installed a new boxtype microwave unit from CEM. The new unit complements the other microwave units in the lab and

FIND THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND YOU COULD WIN A $50 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE 1. What two elements may cause your water to be discoloured?

Email your answers to analytical@src.sk.ca and include your: Name Company Name E-mail address Phone number Be sure to include “December Contest” in the Subject Line Contest closes December 20, 2012 For complete contest rules go to http://src.nu/drawrules

2. What is the first phase of root cause analysis?

3. What new equipment has the lab purchased this year: A Particle Size Analyzer B Freeze Dryer C Microwave D All of the above

will provide increased capacity and quicker TAT for clients. Similar to other microwave units in the lab, the new CEM microwave oven is used with pressurized

Freeze Dryer In early 2012, the lab purchased a freeze dry system.

Freeze drying is a process whereby water or other solvent is removed from frozen material by converting the frozen water directly into vapour without the intermediate formation of liquid water. The basis for this sublimation process involves the absorption of heat by the frozen sample in order to vaporize the ice, the use of a vacuum pump to enhance removal of water vapour from the surface of the sample, the transfer of water vapour to a collector and the removal of heat by the collector in order to condense the water vapour. In essence, the freeze dry process is a balance between the heat absorbed by the sample to vaporize the ice and the heat removed from the collector to convert the water vapour into ice. The lab will use the freeze dryer for certain samples or analysis or upon client request. Contact the lab if you have any questions regarding freeze drying.

Mercury Analyser Mercury is a potent toxin that is found throughout the environment. Chronic exposure to mercury can have devastating consequences owing to its neurological effects. A particular concern with mercury is the impact of bioaccumulation. For example, trace concentrations of mercury within a lake can accumulate in the fish raising mercury concentrations to levels that could potentially lead to chronic mercury continued on page 2

4

OBIE

sample cells and acids to facilitate quick, clean digestions of solid samples, including soil, sediments, fish flesh, fish bones and vegetation.

Lab Mascot

DECEMBER 2012

Table of Contents NEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTS

1

CHOOSING AN ANALYTICAL LAB

2

NEW WHEAT LAB COLLABORATION

2

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

3

SRC SCIENTIST WINS NATIONAL AWARD 3 NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED

3

24/7 SAMPLE DROP-OFF

3

CSR ACHIEVEMENTS

4

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE?

4

RARE EARTHS TESTING

4

ENTER TO WIN

4

SRC Environmental Analytical Laboratories 102 - 422 Downey Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4N1 T: 306-933-6932 Toll-free: 1-800-240-8808 F: 306-933-7922

www.src.sk.ca/analytical