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University of Connecticut Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering

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Metals Laboratory

The Metals Lab analyzes trace elements in water, soil/sediment, tissue, and filters at the part-per-billion (ppb) level, using EPA and NOAA methods.  CESE's most recent instrument is the CETAC Laser Ablation ICPMS, purchased in FY2010.

 

Instrumentation

Use













Analysis

Perkin Elmer/DRC-e Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) CETAC Laser Ablation Unit

Housed in a positive-pressure environment and supplied with HEPA-filtered air to minimize ambient contamination 
To determine elemental concentrations from a variety of matrices, including solid samples, at trace levels 
Perkin Elmer Optima 7300DV Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP/OES)   To determine elemental concentrations from a variety of matrices at routine and trace levels   
Perkin Elmer FIMS Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (CVAAS)  To determine total mercury concentrations in soil/sediment, water, and tissue at routine levels   
Milestone DMA-80 Direct Mercury Analyzer  To determine elemental concentrations from a variety of matrices at routine and trace levels   
Brooks Rand Model III Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer (CVAFS)

Housed in a clean room supplied with positive-pressure  environment and supplied with HEPA-filtered air to minimize ambient contamination
To determine both elemental and organic forms of mercury at extremely trace levels, using methods to determine total, reactive, and organic mercury in precipitation, leaf litter, blood and other tissues   
TEKRAN 2600 CV AFS  To determine mercury at extremely trace levels in water and other liquid matrices   
Perkin Elmer ELAN 6000 ICPMS  To determine elemental concentrations from a variety of matrices at trace levels   




Sample Preparation

Temperature-monitored, walk-in refrigeration room  To store samples 
3 hot block digesters

Mileston Ethos Preparation Microwave

Perchloric acid hood 
To perform various inorganic tests

To perform digestions on difficult matrices

To perform perchloric acid digestion 
 
High-capacity 16-place rotary extractor  To perform EPA-required batch extraction