EXHIBIT 23.6

                [Environmental Business International Letterhead]

                                                     August 4, 2000

Thermo Electron Corporation
81 Wyman Street
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9046

Re: THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4
    (REG. NO. 333-90661)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

           We hereby consent to the use of our name in Thermo Electron
Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-90661; the
"Registration Statement") and in the related Proxy Statement-Prospectus in the
section entitled "THE MERGER - Opinion of Adams, Harkness & Hill" and to the
filing of this consent with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such
consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the rules and regulations of the Commission.


                                  Very truly yours,


                                  /s/ Environmental Business International, Inc.
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                                  ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.