Recipients included some of the best-known thinktanks on the right. The American Enterprise Institute, which is closely connected to the Republican party establishment and has a large staff of scholars, received more than $17m in untraceable donations over the years, the record show.

But relatively obscure organisations did not go overlooked. The Heartland Institute, virtually unknown outside the small world of climate politics, received $13.5m from the Donors Trust.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finland) has provided solutions for the water and waste water laboratories for over 20 years with the family of AquakemTM and GalleryTM analysers. These analysers utilise discrete cell technology which significantly reduces analysis time. Applications are based on photometric measurements. Easy-to-use analysers are ready for immediate analysis, start-up and shut down protocols are automated and once loaded, they automate all necessary steps, providing a walk-away time from two to four hours.

For size reduction of sample materials which cannot be processed at room temperature, the CryoMill from RETSCH (Germany) is the ideal choice. An integrated cooling system ensures that the grinding jar is continually cooled with liquid nitrogen before and during the grinding process. Thus the sample is embrittled and volatile components are preserved. An Autofill System provides liquid nitrogen in the required amount so that the user never gets into direct contact with the LN2 which makes operating the mill particularly safe.

Environmental monitoring specialist, enitial (UK), has been selected as a preferred partner of the National Laboratory Service (NLS) to provide a comprehensive environmental sampling, monitoring and analysis service.

The framework of suppliers, which has been set up by NLS to help meet the demands of its growing commercial portfolio, includes four providers of sample and field based services, one of which is enitial.

Ivor Parry, business development director at enitial said: “enitial is always striving to provide a high quality service and has worked with the National Laboratory Service (NLS) previously to provide a sampling service that is second to none. Being chosen as a preferred partner is testament to the unrivalled level of sampling and field based services we offer.”