Under the Cap - Autumn 2013

Over the past couple of years QEC's marketing staff has been attending a number of national and regional conferences and symposia for environmental lab professionals and analysts.

QEC has exhibited at large national venues like Pittcon for decades, however, these smaller events offer unique opportunities for in-depth communication with friends, colleagues, and prospects.

"It's a matter of quality over quantity," said Mike McCune, QEC sales/marketing VP. "You can see literally hundreds, if not thousands, of contacts at a show like Pittcon, but you can't possibly have a meaningful conversation with each and every one. At these small professional conferences we have a greater opportunity to not only display our products, but to be part of the larger conversations on issues of interest to the entire environmental lab community."

This year QEC has attended many national and regional events, including the NELAC Forum in Denver (January); TCEQ's Trade Fair & Conference in Austin (April); the Florida Society of Environmental Analysts (FSEA) Spring Meeting in Clearwater Beach (May); and the NEMC Symposium in San Antonio (August).

October 23-25 we will be at the FSEA Fall Meeting in West Palm Beach, FL. We hope to see you there!

If your organization has a conference or symposium you would like us to know about, please contact Michael McCune (mmccune@qecusa.com, 800-255-3950).

			Some Asian-imported glass VOA vials sold to environmental labs may have heavy metal content that is not in compliance with US EPA standards, according to published material from Richland Glass of New Jersey. Asian-imported vials analyzed by Richland contained more than nine times the allowable level of arsenic, along with higher levels of other heavy metals (see chart below). The ASTM-E438-92 limit for combined arsenic and antimony is 50 ppm for Type I Class A glass. US EPA directive OSWER9240.0-05A,1992 requires that glass vials used in EPA sampling analysis methods must be compliant with the ASTM-E438-92 “Standard Specification for Glasses in Laboratory Apparatus.” Richland’s analysis also showed the Asian glass to be Type II soda-lime glass. This type of glass is durable and travels well, but it is softer and has expansion properties far in excess of Type I borosilicate glass (see chart). This means the vial may expand or contract beyond acceptable limits under temperature extremes, or may fail altogether. Depending on application and use, these issues may or may not be of concern to some purchasers. Nevertheless, it is QEC’s policy to sell only vials that are EPA-compliant Type I borosilicate glass. For more information on QEC glass vials or containers and QEC quality assurance, please contact your QEC representative, or contact Michael McCune (mmccune@qecusa.com, 800-255-3950). Source: Richland Glass Company

			QEC has begun discussions with US EPA officials over the presence in the market of PTFE cap liners that are significantly thinner than what is specified in published EPA standards. The stated thickness requirement for PTFE* cap liners is 0.015” (pp. 6-7, EPA Publication 9240.0 05A, “Specifications and Guidance for Contaminant-Free Sample Containers”). Some providers, however, are using PTFE liners that are 0.010”, one-third less than the standard. (”PTFE” (polytetrafluoroethylene) is referred to in EPA Publication 9420.0-05A as “Teflon”, which is a brand of PTFE manufactured by DuPont Co.) The purpose of the liners is to (1) help seal the container and (2) provide a highly resistant chemically inert barrier between the sample and any potential contaminants. Effectiveness of PTFE liners as a barrier is at least in part a function of the thickness of the liner. As liners become thinner they become more porous and eventually will fail to provide an adequate barrier. It may be that the protection afforded by 0.010" liner is adequate, but that has not yet been determined by the EPA. Unless and until such a determination is made, QEC will continue to use only EPA-compliant 0.015” PTFE cap liners. It is QEC’s policy to use only EPA-compliant materials and procedures for all our environmental sampling containers. For more information about EPA standards and QEC quality assurance, please contact your QEC representative or contact Michael McCune (mmccune@qecusa.com, 800-255-3950).

			QEC is known throughout our industry for listening to our customers' needs and ideas and responding accordingly. Here's a case in point… Just added to our chromatography line: limited-volume inserts to fit standard opening and wide opening autosampler vials: Limited-volume inserts are an economical way to reduce the use and waste of solvents in small samples. QEC's precision-point conical bottom inserts provide the smallest dead volume, and are a good choice for minimizing sample loss. Precise mandrel-formed vial inserts provide excellent injection accuracy. Polypropylene bottom springs attached to conical bottom inserts to help center the insert inside the vial and to protect the autosampler needle. QEC also has flat bottom inserts that are very economical and are often a viable option for limited sampling. Click here, or contact your QEC representative for more information on vial inserts or any of our chromatography products.

			Over the past couple of years QEC's marketing staff has been attending a number of national and regional conferences and symposia for environmental lab professionals and analysts. QEC has exhibited at large national venues like Pittcon for decades, however, these smaller events offer unique opportunities for in-depth communication with friends, colleagues, and prospects. "It's a matter of quality over quantity," said Mike McCune, QEC sales/marketing VP. "You can see literally hundreds, if not thousands, of contacts at a show like Pittcon, but you can't possibly have a meaningful conversation with each and every one. At these small professional conferences we have a greater opportunity to not only display our products, but to be part of the larger conversations on issues of interest to the entire environmental lab community." This year QEC has attended many national and regional events, including the NELAC Forum in Denver (January); TCEQ's Trade Fair & Conference in Austin (April); the Florida Society of Environmental Analysts (FSEA) Spring Meeting in Clearwater Beach (May); and the NEMC Symposium in San Antonio (August). October 23-25 we will be at the FSEA Fall Meeting in West Palm Beach, FL. We hope to see you there! If your organization has a conference or symposium you would like us to know about, please contact Michael McCune (mmccune@qecusa.com, 800-255-3950).
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