Electronic and electrical waste: a deposit of metals and rare earths (Orléans, 2016).
© BRGM
Sampling is the operation that seeks to represent a batch of material by an often very small fraction of it. It is a prerequisite for any decision in process engineering: process design, diagnosis of a site, audit of an installation, negotiation of the material price...
Taking a sample of material is a random process that results in sampling errors. Sampling errors are a matter of concern when handling solid materials or mixtures, especially when there is a commercial stake in the material being studied. The main errors result from the heterogeneity of the material being sampled and the difficulty in collecting a representative sample.
Based on Pierre Gy's theory (ToS, Theory of Sampling), the ECHANT software calculates the fundamental sampling error (FSE). It is a precious help in the implementation of a sampling strategy for heterogeneous materials. It is useful to:
- define reliable sampling campaigns
- better control the performance of a process
- improve product quality
Main characteristics of the ECHANT sampling software
The main characteristics of the ECHANT sampling software are:
- integrated sampling scenarios for various applications,
- calculation of the fundamental sampling error (FSE),
- step-by-step design of plans,
- precise characterization of the sampled material,
- graphical representation of the variation of the EFE with the sample mass.
BILCO, USIM PAC et ECHANT : une suite complète pour analyser les procédés de transformation
Together with the BILCO material balance software and the USIM PAC process simulator, ECHANT forms a complete suite to analyse transformation processes.
BRGM is the author of the BILCO USIM PAC and ECHANT software. CASPEO is the editor since 2004 and continues to extend the functionalities.
Features
ECHANT is an all-in-one sampling calculation software. It allows, for a given material:
- Calculation of minimum sample mass: development of a sampling plan by setting limits for the EFE
- Calculation of the maximum sampling error: estimation of the maximum sampling error for a given sample mass
This decision support tool allows to study different parameters: content, concentration, moisture content, particle size distribution... If the values are unknown, ECHANT estimates them from other known parameters and adapts the calculation.
ECHANT software interface - Sample mass versus EFE - waste sampling (left), ore sampling (right).
© Caspeo
Applications
Originally designed for mineral processing, ECHANT software is now used in many industries involving solids or mixtures (particles, aggregates, multiphases):
- Mines: moisture content, particle size distribution, elemental/mineral content
- Waste: composition, pollutant content
- Polluted soils
- Agri-food, biomass
- Pharmacy
- Cosmetics
- etc.
To find out more
Publications
Brochot, S., Garcin-Schroeder, V. and Wavrer, P. (2019) - The Choice of the Heterogeneity Model to Better Estimate the Intrinsic Heterogeneity. Proceedings of WSCB 2019, the 9th World Conference on Sampling and Blending, Beijing, China, May 2019, pp. 308-315
Brochot, S., Wavrer, P. and Opanasenko, S. - How Sampling Error Calculation Can Enhance the Measurement System in a Chromite Concentrator. Proceedings of WSCB 2019, the 9th World Conference on Sampling and Blending, Beijing, China, May 2019, pp. 417-426
Wavrer, P. (2018) - Theory of Sampling (TOS) applied to characterisation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) - a case study from France. TOS forum, Issue 8, p. 3 (full article). https://www.impopen.com/tosf-abstract/S08_0103
Maris, E., Botane, P., Wavrer, P., Froelich, D. (2015) - Characterizing plastics originating from WEEE: A case study in France. Minerals Engineering Volume 76, 15 May 2015, Pages 28-37. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0892687514004415
Brochot, S., Mounié, F. (2015) - Placer gold sampling - The overall measurement error using gravity concentration on particle size ranges during sample treatment. Proceedings of WSCB 2015, the 7th World Conference on Sampling and Blending, France - TOS forum June 2015, (5):43 (full article). https://www.impopen.com/tosf-abstract/S05_0043
Brochot, S. (2013) - Application of sampling theory to optimal design of size distribution measurement procedures. Proceedings of WSCB 2013, the 6th World Conference on Sampling and Blending, Peru.
Wavrer, P., Botane, P., Brochot, S. (2013) - Sampling protocol design for characterization of plastics from small WEEE. WSCB 2013, the 6th World Conference on Sampling and Blending, Peru.
Brochot, S. (2013) - Application of sampling theory to optimal design of size distribution measurement procedures. Proceedings of the Sixth World Conference on Sampling and Blending, Ed by J. Beniscelli, J. Felipe Costa, O. Domínguez, S. Duggan, K. Esbensen, G. Lyman, B. Sanfurgo.
Gecamin, Santiago de Chile, pp. 129-140 (2013).
Wavrer, P., Botane, P., Brochot, S. - Sampling protocol design for characterization of plastics from small WEEE. Proceedings of the Sixth World Conference on Sampling and Blending, Ed by J. Beniscelli,
J. Felipe Costa, O. Domínguez, S. Duggan, K. Esbensen, G. Lyman, B. Sanfurgo. Gecamin, Santiago de Chile, pp. 143-152 (2013).
Brochot, S. (2012) - Standard Fire Assay or Screen Fire Assay? Application of the overall measurement error approach to choose the most appropriate method. Proceedings of the Sampling 2012 Conference AusIMM, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, pp. 135-142.
Brochot, S. (2012) - Sampling for grinding pilot plant test: the effect of size distribution variability. Proceedings of the Sampling 2012 Conference AusIMM, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 27-28 August, pp. 127-134.
Brochot, S. (2003)- ECHANT: A Sampling Aid Tool, paper presented at First World Conference on Sampling and Blending, Esbjerg.
