APPRENTICESHIP AT SKALAR S LABORATORY. The organization Skalar Analytical BV. The product lines of Skalar Analytical BV

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1 SKALAR Laboratory & Process Analysis APPRENTICESHIP AT SKALAR S LABORATORY The organization Skalar Analytical BV Skalar is a Dutch manufacturer of high quality automated analyzers for laboratories and the process-industry. The company was established in 1965 and has grown into a multinational organization with its own subsidiaries in most European countries and North America. Worldwide Skalar works together with over 60 representatives. Skalar s Headquarter is located in Breda the Netherlands and employs around 75 people. The activities are research, development, assembly, quality control and providing support to the international sales and service network. The Skalar subsidiaries and representatives are mainly focused on sales and service activities and providing support to the users of Skalar analyzers. The product lines of Skalar Analytical BV The most important product lines of Skalar are: - A. Continuous Flow Analyzers (CFA) - B. Total Organic Carbon & Total Nitrogen Analyzers (TOC & TN) - C. Robotic Analyzers (ROB) - D. On Line Process Analyzers (OPA) - E. Spectral Fluorescent Signature Analyzer (Fluo-Imager ) - F. Toxicity Analyzer (Toxtracer )

2 - A. Continuous Flow Analyzers (CFA) A flow analysis system with sampler and data acquisition for automating wet-chemistry applications including chemical pretreatment procedures. The system uses a spectral photometric technique to analyze several parameters simultaneously in liquid samples. The modular design can be configured to meet the specific hardware and chemical requirements of the customer. The analyzer is often used for environmental applications for example drinking water and effluent plants to automate analyses such as nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, phosphate, cyanide and phenol. - B. Total Organic Carbon & Total Nitrogen Analyzers (TOC & TN) Analyzers to determine the concentration of Total Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen in liquid and solid samples: - TOC/TN analyzers for liquid samples: This fully automated system determines carbon and nitrogen fractions in liquid samples and includes integrated sample pretreatment, infrared detection and data acquisition. Several methods are available to determine carbon such as high temperature catalytic combustion and UV persulfate digestion. It s even possible to combine it with the determination of Total Nitrogen by adding an extra detector. - TOC/TN analyzers in solid samples: These automated systems are used to determine carbon and nitrogen in solids materials and consist of an integrated sampler, sample pretreatment, infrared and/ or thermal conductivity detection. Typical application areas are environmental (water analysis), the food industry, agriculture (soil analysis) and waste disposal.

3 - C. Robotic Analyzers This line of analyzers consist of systems automating routine analytical tests such as ph, conductivity, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, titrations etc. They include a fully computer controlled X-Y-Z mechanism to pre-treat and determine a wide variety of samples. The analyzers easily allow custom-made configurations and applications such as ph, conductivity, turbidity, oxygen etc. These systems are frequently used in environmental laboratories, water treatment plants, drinking water control and surface water. - D. On Line Process Analyzers A complete line of on-line analyzers integrating many parameters (nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, cyanide, phenol, Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus etc.) to monitor industrial processes. The systems can be configured for continuous analysis to produce a trend or for time-based batch measurement. Application areas: Industrial applications such as waste and drinking water treatment plants, Industrial effluents and process control.

4 - E. Fluo-Imager A unique quality and quantity fluorescence scanning technique to determine surface water-parameters simultaneously. Parameters include: Oil in water, Biological Pigments (a.o. Chlorophyll), Phenols, Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) etc. There are two versions available a laboratory model and an on-line model. Application areas: control of waste and surface water for government authorities and industries such as oil refineries. - F. ToxTracer The ToxTracer system is one of the fastest and most efficient microbiotests for monitoring the presence and toxicity of chemical components. It s based on the reduction of light emission from marine bacterium Vibro Fischeri by toxicants. A new development is the use of metal detectors, these are genetically modified bacteria that will produce light in the presence of a specific heavy metal. Application areas: Control of waste and surface water, soil and sediments.

5 Content of apprenticeship at Skalar Analytical BV Phase 1: Introduction period at Skalar s application laboratory The apprentice will complete a period of introduction and training under professional supervision in order to master the techniques and functionality of one of Skalar s product lines. Phase 2: Period of specialization into one of the product lines The apprentice will immerse himself/herself into the products independently. He/She signals, analyzes and solves problems in the field of hardware (electronics, mechanics), chemistry and software. Phase 3: Period of research and development of a chemical application The apprentice will construct a custom-made application independently, meaning that he/she puts the requested determination into practice on the analyzer. This includes the following steps: a. literature research b. set up a hardware and chemical design c. test of the design d. analyze and repair errors e. determine the critical factors f. define the design g. fix the definitive design Phase 4: Finishing Finish the apprenticeship by delivering a report to the educational institute and to Skalar.

6 Conditions of the apprenticeship Profile of the trainee - Student of an analytical chemistry education (university) - Willing to live in Breda (Netherlands) for the duration of the apprenticeship - A good grasp of verbal English - A flexible and enthusiastic personality - Willing to learn Conditions - Monthly salary - Full expense compensation for renting a room - Excellent chance to pick up international experience in the chemistry automation