Organics Division
The Organics Division identifies and quantifies trace organic compounds in water, soil, sediment, and tissue at the part-per-billion (ppb) and part-per-trillion (ppt) level using standard EPA and NOAA methods as well as CESE-developed methods.
Laboratory scientists are highly experienced in the development and validation of custom methods to meet the needs of special projects. This laboratory is certified by the Connecticut Department of Public Health for the analysis of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in drinking waters and persistent pollutants in biological tissue.
Recent projects supported by the Organics Division include:
- Determination of concentrations of PFAS in finfish, shellfish, water, and plankton using EPA and in-house developed methods.
- Detection and quantitation of bio-active compounds such as furanocoumarins, neurotransmitters, and environmental estrogens in complex matrices, including food, water, soil, and biological tissues (blood, urine, saliva, hair).
- Quantitation of harmful algal toxins including microcystins, domoic acid, brevetoxin, and saxitoxin, in water, filters, and biological tissues.
- Developing novel analytical methods supporting rapid responses to emerging threats on commercial shellfisheries.
Some of our clients and collaborators include:
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Geological Survey
- KX Technologies
- Florida Atlantic University
- Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Available Instrumentation
Instruments |
Use |
|
| SCIEX X500R Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatograph equipped with a Quadrupole Time-of-Flight High Resolution Mass Spectrometer (QToF-HRMS) | To identify and quantify trace level concentrations of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other non-traditional organic contaminants in a variety of matrices. | |
Waters Acquity Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatograph (UPLC) equipped with:
|
To identify and quantify trace level concentrations of pesticides, PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs and other organic contaminant in a variety of matrices. | |
| Waters Quattro Micro Gas Chromatograph-Tandem Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS/MS) | To determine concentrations of volatile and semi-volatile compounds in a variety of matrices. | |
| Agilent 6890/5973 Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) | To determine concentrations of pesticides and PCBs in a variety of matrices. | |
| Agilent 6890 GC w/ Electron Capture Detector (GC/ECD) | To identify and quantify trace level concentrations of organic analytes in a variety of matrices including hemp. | |
| Perkin-Elmer Series LC300 High Performance Liquid Chromatograph equipped with Photodiode Array and Fluorescence Detectors (HPLC/PDA/FLR) | To determine concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons and other organic compounds in a variety of matrices. | |
| Perkin-Elmer Clarus 580 GC w/ Flame Ionization Detector (FID) | To acquire and analyze chemical images to and determine the chemical distribution of materials in heterogeneous samples | |
| Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometer, Thermo Fisher-Nicolet iN10, with Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) plate with various on-board IR libraries | To acquire and analyze chemical images to and determine the chemical distribution of materials in heterogeneous samples | |
| Labconco RapidVap Automated Concentrator | To concentrate sample extracts | |
| OI Autoprep Gel Permeation Chromatograph | To remove impurities from the extraction process | |
| Dionex Automated Solvent Extractor (ASE) | To extract solid samples for analysis | |
| Organimation Nitrogen Blow-Down Concentrator | To concentrate sample extracts | |
| Genevac EZ-2 Evaporator | To concentrate sample extracts | |
| High-Capacity Rotary Extractor | To perform EPA-required batch extractions |