Valerio Ferracci is a Principal Scientist in the Air Quality and Aerosol Metrology Group at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). He has more than 18 years of experience measuring trace gases in the atmosphere, from anthropogenic species in urban environments to biogenic emissions in remote locations. He has worked with a wide range of analytical techniques, including gas chromatography, diffusive samplers, absorption spectroscopy and low-cost sensors.
He completed an MSci in Chemistry and a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry at University College London. He then worked in the Gas and Particle Metrology Group at NPL before undertaking postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge and Cranfield University. During this time, he investigated atmospheric oxidation processes and developed autonomous instruments for long-term monitoring of key atmospheric organic compounds. He joined the Air Quality and Aerosol Metrology Group in 2023.
Valerio is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), a committee member of the RSC Environmental Chemistry Group (ECG), and Treasurer of the Automation and Analytical Management Group (AAMG). He is an editor of the biannual ECG Bulletin and has chaired RSC events focused on gas sensing, indoor air quality and citizen science. He also co-organises and co-chairs the annual Air Quality in the 21st Century conference.
He is the convenor of CEN TC 264 Working Group 11 (diffusive samplers) and Working Group 12 (inorganic pollutants), and a member of Working Group 42 (sensors for ambient monitoring).
Valerio leads the Air Quality and Aerosol Metrology Group's work on sensor evaluation and gas pollutant monitoring. This includes using dedicated exposure chambers to assess the performance of sensors and sampling methods for nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia. It also includes evaluating emerging low-cost sensor systems.
He supports the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) programme through quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) diffusive samplers. He also collaborates with academic partners, including Cranfield University, the University of Leeds and the University of Surrey, on research into atmospheric oxidation processes, indoor air monitoring and the calibration of urban sensor networks.