Chemical Analysis Laboratory
List of Services
Element Analysis
These methods are available to detect isotope types and concentrations, of a majority of elements in the periodic table - some, even at trace levels.
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Emission Spectrometry (ICP)
- Analysis of solutions or dissolved solids
- Quantitative determination of 20 to 28 elements simultaneously
- Detection limits in the parts-per-million (ppm) range
Typical applications: Sample types previously processed include wooden boards, plant tissue, soils, proteins, bones, human tissue, fish, snails, clams, wastewater, and ocean water
VG Plasma Quad 3 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
- Analysis of solutions or dissolved solids
- Rapid, multi-elemental analysis capability covering most elements in the periodic table
- Detection limits in the parts-per-billion to parts-per-trillion range
- Requires a minimum sample of 2 ml
Typical applications: To date, our lab has used this method to analyze protein, soil, water and plant samples. Other applications include detection of trace elements in a wide variety of aqueous matrices (drinking water, river, lake and ground water, waste water and effluent, and seawater) in solids after digestion (sediment, soil, sludge, road dust, air particulate matter, plant tissue and grain, rocks and minerals, etc.) and in samples of body fluids (blood, plasma, and urine)
Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen Analysis
Rapid, simultaneous determination of total carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content of non-aqueous samples
- Requires 1-3 mg of dry, ground plant or animal tissue and 200 mg of dry 18-40 mesh soils
- Instrumentation: Perkin-Elmer 2400 Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen Analyzer (CHN)
Typical applications: plants, soils, forestry, water, crystalline compounds, seston, complex carbohydrates, and plastics
Nutrient Analysis
Available chemistries are ammonia, chloride, nitrite, sulfate, ortho phosphate, alkalinity, total nitrogen and total phosphorus.
- Requires a 25 ml sample
- Instrumentation: Braun+Luebbe Auto Analyzer II Continuous Flow System
Typical applications: water, wastewater
Other Services
Other equipment includes a microwave digestion system, a freeze-dryer for lyophilizing tissue, and a jar mill for grinding samples for low-level metal analysis. The laboratory uses several EPA-approved and AOAC methods for preparation and analysis.
For further information contact Becky Auxier (706) 542-6031 auxier@uga.edu
