Valerio Ferracci is a Senior Scientist in the Air Quality and Aerosol Metrology Group (AQAM) at NPL. He has more than 18 years’ experience in the measurement of trace gases in the atmosphere, ranging from anthropogenic species in urban areas to biogenic emissions in remote environments. His work spans a wide variety of analytical techniques, including gas chromatography, diffusive samplers, several types of absorption spectroscopy, and low-cost sensors.
He completed his MSci in Chemistry and PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry at University College London. This was followed by roles in the Gas and Particle Metrology Group at NPL and postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge and Cranfield University, where he investigated atmospheric oxidation processes and developed autonomous instrumentation for long-term monitoring of key atmospheric organics. He joined AQAM 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 and citizen science activities. He co-organises and co-chairs the annual Air Quality in the 21st Century conference.
He is the convenor of CEN TC 264 WG12 (inorganic pollutants), and a member of WG11 (diffusive samplers) and WG42 (sensors for ambient monitoring).
Valerio leads AQAM’s work on sensor evaluation and gas pollutant monitoring. This includes the use of dedicated exposure chambers to validate the performance of sensors, covering pumped and diffusive sampling methods for nitrogen oxides, VOCs and ammonia, as well as emerging low-cost sensor systems. He supports DEFRA’s local air quality management (LAQM) programme through QA/QC of NO₂ diffusive samplers. He also collaborates with academic partners (Cranfield, Leeds, Surrey) on research in atmospheric oxidation processes, indoor air monitoring and calibration of urban sensor networks.