ROHS instruments are widely and critically used in universities, primarily serving three key functions: teaching, research, and community service. The following are some typical examples and application scenarios:

一、 Main Applications

1、School of Materials Science and Engineering

Case Study: Research and development of new lead-free solder, eco-friendly polymer materials, and green coatings.

Applications: When developing new materials, graduate students and faculty must ensure that they comply with the RoHS Directive (which restricts hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE). They use RoHS instruments (such as XRF spectrometers for preliminary screening and ICP-MS/OES for precise quantitative analysis) to validate material formulations, ensure their environmental friendliness, and publish high-impact research papers.

2、School of Environmental Science and Engineering

Case Study: Research on the Treatment and Recycling of Electronic Waste (E-waste).

Applications: To study the content and migration patterns of hazardous substances in various materials (such as plastics, metal powders, and residues) following the dismantling, crushing, and sorting of electronic waste. ROHS instruments are used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment processes, prevent secondary pollution, and provide data to support the development of more scientifically sound recycling strategies.

3、School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Case Study: Development and Optimization of Analytical Methods for Hazardous Substances.

Applications: As a vital practical platform for analytical chemistry, instructors guide students in using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze plasticizers (such as phthalates, which, although not strictly covered by RoHS, are often tested for as well) and liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV/ICP) to analyze hexavalent chromium, among other substances. This is a critical component in developing students’ instrumental skills and research capabilities.

4、School of Electronic and Information Engineering / School of Microelectronics

Case Study: Compliance Verification and Failure Analysis of Electronic Components and PCBs.

Applications: When designing and manufacturing printed circuit boards and packaging devices, it is essential to ensure that the components, solder, substrate materials, and other materials used meet environmental standards. XRF enables rapid, non-destructive screening of finished products, helping students develop an awareness of “green design” and “compliance.”

5、School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering

Case Study: Research on the Environmental Sustainability of Automotive Electronics, Wiring Harnesses, and Interior Materials.

Applications: Modern vehicles contain a large number of electronic and electrical components and are subject to environmental directives in the automotive sector (such as the ELV Directive), which impose requirements on hazardous substances similar to those of RoHS. Relevant specialized laboratories are equipped with RoHS testing instruments for material qualification verification and for teaching simulations related to supply chain management.

二、 Specific instrument types and university application examples

1、X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF-RoHS Tester)

Features: Fast, non-destructive, and requiring minimal sample preparation; suitable for initial screening and educational demonstrations.

Typical scenarios in higher education institutions:

Teaching Laboratories: In courses such as "Instrumental Analysis" and "Environmental Monitoring," students bring everyday items—such as phone cases, charging cables, and toy parts—to conduct on-site rapid screening for heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, etc.). This approach is vivid and intuitive, fostering a strong sense of engagement.

Preliminary Screening: When a large number of samples need to be analyzed, XRF is first used to identify samples suspected of exceeding limits, which are then sent for testing with precision instruments, saving both time and costs.

Public Testing Platform: Many universities’ analytical testing centers are equipped with high-end XRF instruments and offer services to both the university community and external companies, charging testing fees to cover operating costs.

2、Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer/Mass Spectrometer (ICP-OES / ICP-MS)

Features: Extremely high precision; capable of simultaneously analyzing multiple elements; a gold standard for quantitative analysis.

Typical scenarios in higher education institutions:

Graduate Research: Environmental science students analyze the forms of heavy metals in soil and water; materials science students precisely determine alloy compositions; and chemistry students develop new sample preparation methods (such as microwave digestion). This equipment is essential for generating accurate research data.

Data Collection for Theses: The final, authoritative data for undergraduate theses or graduate research projects often comes from this source.

3、Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) & High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Features: Primarily used for the analysis of harmful organic substances (such as polybrominated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and phthalates).

Typical scenarios in higher education institutions:

Methodological Research: Faculty and students in the chemistry and environmental science programs are dedicated to developing faster and more sensitive standard methods for detecting organic hazardous substances.

Analysis of Complex Matrices: Research into how to effectively extract and separate these organic pollutants from complex materials such as plastics and textiles.

CPEDX has implemented the following on-site projects at universities: