Instruments  

Learn more about the various instruments and features available to you in our Environmental Analysis Lab.

Spectrophotometry

• Perkin-Elmer AAnalyst 100 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Flame AA):
  • analyzes the concentration of single metallic elements in aqueous solutions
  • is equipped with interchangeable air/acetylene and N2O/acetylene flame burner heads
  • is capable of analyzing most metals provided that the concentration is relatively high
  • can also be configured for flow injection analysis and hydrides

• Perkin-Elmer AAnalyst 600 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer with graphite furnace (GFAAS):
  • analyzes metals individually, similar to flame AA technique, but with a much lower detection limit for trace metals
  • is more expensive to operate than flame AA, but less expensive than ICP-MS

• Lachat Instruments QuikChem 8000 Series FIA+ with XYZ Autosampler:
  • has a dual-channel flow injection analysis spectrophotometer for analyzing ion and compound concentrations using colorimetric techniques
  • samples must be aqueous solutions such as water, salt solutions extracts, or digests

Chromatography

• Dionex DX-100 Ion Chromatograph:
• separates and analyzes ions in water samples using a liquid mobile phase and packed column stationary phase
• is currently configured for suite of major anions
• Dionex DX-500 Liquid Chromatograph with AS40 Autosampler:
• separates and measures carbohydrate and anion concentrations contained in sample mixtures using a liquid mobile phase and packed column stationary phase
• Hewlett-Packard 5890 Series II Gas Chromatograph with FID and a cool, on-column inlet:
• separates and measures concentrations of organic compounds contained in complex sample mixtures using a gaseous mobile phase and capillary column stationary phase

Other instruments and preparation equipment

• Orion Research Model 701A IonAnalyzer pH Probe:
  • can be used to measure pH of water samples, or configured with a pump and timer for acid/base titrations
• Milestone Ethos 900 Microwave Digestor:
  • 12-sample carousel for temperature and pressure-controlled acid and oxidizer soil and plant digests
  • converts solid sample to aqueous solution for analysis with various instruments
• AIM 500 BD 28/50 and Technicon BD 20/40 Block Digestors:
  • is equipped with Kjeldahl digest flasks for open acid and oxidizer digests of soils and plants, such as Total Kjeldahl P and N; samples are then analyzed on Lachat or AA
• Dupont Sorvall RT 6000B Refrigerated Centerfuge:
  • -20 - +40 C controlled temperature, 6000 RPM centrifuge
  • is equipped with 10 ml and 50 ml tube inserts
• Lindberg HB 200 -1200 C and 500 - 1500 C muffle furnaces:
  • loss-on-ignition (LOI) organic matter estimates when paired with analytical balances
  • provide dry ashing sample preparation, pre-combustion of glass filter paper, and equipment
• Kewaunee fume hood with wash down:
  • is equipped with a water wash down and drain for open beaker perchloric acid digests
• General Electric Wiley Mill:
  • is equipped with 20, 40, and 60 mesh screens for milling plant and soil samples for weighing or digestion

Additionally, the lab is equipped with analytical balances and drying ovens for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and sample preparation.