Ammonia (NH₃) is an alkaline gas that negatively affects air quality, promoting the formation of secondary PM2.5 and interacting with other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
These interactions have significant consequences for human health and ecosystems, as highlighted by the WHO.
Mainly emitted from livestock farming and industrial activities, ammonia contributes to air pollution and soil eutrophication.
The new EU regulation on ammonia emissions sets specific limits and technical requirements that must be met by companies and operators in the sector.
Accurate monitoring of emissions is essential to ensure compliance and prevent penalties.
What the new EU regulation says about air quality monitoring
Objectives of the regulation
The EU directive on ammonia aims to reduce atmospheric emissions and improve air quality. Among its main goals are the reduction of ammonia, methane, and other related compounds, with a particular focus on pig and poultry farms.
Scope of application
The regulation applies to all production activities emitting ammonia (from large livestock facilities to industrial plants). It introduces specific emission thresholds and provides guidelines for Best Available Techniques (BAT) designed to minimize environmental impact.
Technical obligations and BAT
According to the EU regulation, companies must adopt state-of-the-art technologies to monitor and reduce emissions. Measurement accuracy is crucial: uncalibrated instruments can result in non-compliance, fines, and environmental risks.
Environmental impacts of ammonia
Ammonia significantly contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) formation through reactions with acidic gases such as H₂SO₄ and HNO₃, producing ammonium sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) and ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃).
These processes increase PM2.5 levels in urban areas and lead to nitrogen deposition, which causes eutrophication of ecosystems. Accurate measurement of ammonia is therefore critical to developing effective pollution mitigation strategies and protecting public health and the environment.
Why correct calibration of ammonia analyzers is essential
Calibration of ammonia analyzers is key to obtaining accurate and reliable data. Incorrect measurements can lead to errors in environmental reporting and jeopardize regulatory compliance.
Using properly calibrated instruments ensures:
• Accurate and reliable data
• Compliance with the EU directive on ammonia emissions
• Enhanced environmental safety and control for farms and industries
The risks of inaccurate ammonia measurement
Failure to calibrate ammonia analyzers can cause significant measurement errors, directly impacting air quality management and environmental safety.
Outdated or poorly calibrated instruments may:
• Provide incorrect NH₃ concentration data, compromising environmental policies and regulatory decisions
• Undermine PM2.5 reduction strategies and eutrophication mitigation efforts
• Create legal and compliance risks for organizations and laboratories subject to EU standards
The PermaCal by LNI Swissgas is the only gas calibrator on the market designed to meet the highest precision and traceability requirements, ensuring reliable and regulation-compliant data.
Why choose Permacal
Key features
Permacal is a multipoint dilution and permeation system, designed to deliver precise, reliable, and easy-to-perform calibrations.
Its advanced technology allows instruments to be calibrated according to European regulatory requirements.
PermaCal stands out for:
• Precision and stability: thermal control of the permeation oven with a stability of 0.015°C
• Versatility: up to six permeation tubes for generating multiple calibration gas concentrations
• EU compliance: designed to meet EN 14181 standards and the latest EU air quality directives
• Reliability: corrosion-resistant materials and SilcoNert treatment for compatibility with reactive gases
• Ease of use: intuitive touchscreen display, available in portable and rack-mounted versions
Designed for:
• Government agencies and environmental authorities seeking to upgrade outdated equipment or expand air quality monitoring capacity in line with new EU directives
• Laboratories requiring highly precise ammonia calibrators compliant with current European standards
Thanks to its versatility, PermaCal is suitable for both fixed laboratory installations and portable field operations.
How to integrate PermaCal for regulatory compliance
Integrating PermaCal into company processes enables organizations to meet EU emission limits. With this calibrator, companies can perform regular checks and verify that ammonia levels remain within required parameters.
Proven Compliance
Several air quality network have already adopted PermaCal to ensure compliance with the new EU rules, improving environmental management and reducing non-compliance risks.
Investing in PermaCal means ensuring precision, traceability, and regulatory compliance in ammonia measurement (while protecting public health and ecosystems).