Carbon Nanotubes Complete REACH Requirements

Envigo is pleased to announce the successful outcome of its industry collaboration with Intertek and OCSiAl to meet the latter’s regulatory requirements for its carbon nanotubes. OCSiAl is reported as the world's first manufacturer of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) to complete REACH registration; its TUBALL™ SWCNT core product is now included as a new substance in the EU's Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, (number 01-2120130006-75-0000).

Over the course of six months, scientists at OCSiAl, Envigo and Intertek collaborated to conduct extensive research and testing on potentially hazardous properties of SWCNT, information that will support the expansion of mass applications of SWCNT in various industries, including consumable products.

Capable of producing industrial-scale volumes of single wall carbon nanotubes, OCSiAl currently commercialises 10 tonnes of single wall carbon nanotubes in Europe with global capacity of the product expected to reach 60 tonnes next year.

Adrian Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of Envigo said: “It’s very exciting for Envigo to be a partner in fostering important innovation – in this instance bringing our skills, expertise and comprehensive REACH testing capabilities to help OCSiAl meet all of the REACH requirements for its TUBALL™ product. We are therefore delighted to have worked closely with Intertek and OCSiAl to enable the REACH registration of single wall carbon nanotubes – an industry first.”  

According to OCSiAl’s EHS Lead Manager, Gunther Van Kerckhove, “OCSiAl shares REACH’s goals and considers the completion of mandatory registration as one of the milestones in the company’s goal to provide the European market and global community with a more comprehensive understanding of nanotubes, their nature, safety, and  potential for use in a wide range of industries and products.”