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.”

Gasmet Technologies (Finland) have announced that their FTIR-based Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) has received approval from TÜV, the international certification body, for the EN 15267-3 standard, which is more recent and more stringent than the existing German Type Approval and QAL1 certificate, EN14181. This means that the Gasmet CEMS is approved for additional calibration ranges and an increased H2O range up to 40%.

Highlighting the importance of this certificate, Gasmet’s Antti Heikkilä says “The ranges for CO, NO, SO2, H2O have been increased and this certificate demonstrates the low, fully compliant, measurement uncertainties that we can achieve. This is a good indicator of the high quality of the analyser, but it also offers practical advantages. For example, the low measurement uncertainties for N2O and CO2 (5% of measuring range or less) mean that the CEMS system can now be used to monitor Greenhouse gases for emissions trading in addition to measuring pollutants for compliance monitoring purposes.”

Specific controllers and analysers are installed to perform a continuous emission monitoring (CEM) of chimney emissions, to detect the release of dangerous gases, or to analyse ambient air quality.

Gas analysis data from different locations can be wirelessly transmitted to a central location, eliminating the need for installing cables.

Detcon’s (USA) rugged new CXT-Series wireless gas detection sensors are designed for use in heavy industrial environments and especially suitable for mobile applications. These “environmentally bulletproof” field devices include fully encapsulated sensor electronics housed in a stainless steel enclosure, thereby eliminating potential damage that may be caused from water ingress.

The CXT is equipped with one of two sensor technologies - electrochemical to monitor toxic gases, and infra-red for combustible hydrocarbons. Power is supplied by a rechargeable Smart Battery Pack or disposable battery options. When powered by the Smart Battery Pack, infra-red sensors can work continuously for more than six months, and indefinitely with accompanying solar panels.

At the Liulitun landfill in Haidian District of Beijing, the operator specified their requirement for a landfill gas analyser with ‘high accuracy and strong stability’. After a competitive pitch by Geotech distributor, Onuee Electronics, they selected the Geotech (UK) GA3000 fixed landfill gas analyser.

Landfill operation started in 1999 at the Liulitun landfill and it continues to take 1,500 tonnes of waste every day. Currently it has four flares and the site operator uses the Geotech GA3000 to measure methane concentration of the landfill gas.