Metals Division

 

The Metals Division 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 acquisition is the Perkin Elmer/DRC-e Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) with a CETAC Laser Ablation unit.

Recent projects supported by analyses in the Metals Division include:

  • Assessment of chemical exposure and uptake of pollutants in commercially important shellfish species.
  • Determination of elemental concentrations in support of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Program.
  • Assessment of inorganic contaminants in global populations of sperm whales

Some of our clients and collaborators include:

  • Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP)
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • Biodiversity Research Institute

Available Intruments

Instruments Use
Perkin Elmer/DRC-e Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) with a CETAC Laser Ablation unit 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 in solids at routine and trace levels 

Brooks Rand Model III Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer (CVAFS)

To determine total, reactive, and organic mercury at extremely trace levels in precipitation, leaf litter, blood and other tissues 

TEKRAN 2600 Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer (CVAFS)

To determine mercury at extremely trace levels in water and other liquid matrices 

Milestone Ethos Preparation Microwave

To perform digestions on difficult matrices

Temperature-monitored, walk-in refrigeration room  To store samples 
3 Hot block digesters To perform various inorganic tests
High-capacity 16-place rotary extractor  To perform EPA-required batch extraction