Facilities

The Agilent LC-QQQ 6460 is a very sensitive instruments providing very low detection limits (ng/L in water sample or femtogram-level on column) for a wide range of compounds. Therefore, it is extensively used to perform analysis of trace organic contaminants for both research and routine activities.

Accurate identification and quantitation of trace contaminants
Structural identification (MS/MS analysis) of chemicals previously identified with the QTOF
Alternative to GC-MS analysis for non-volatile compounds (no derivatization required)

Agilent 7000 GC-MS/MS

The GC triple quad is used to measure the concentration of volatile organic compounds. It can be operated in Chemical Ionization (CI) or Electron Impact (EI) mode. Using the NIST database in EI mode unknown volatile organic compounds can be identified by running the instrument in SCAN mode. If the mass transitions have been identified the detection limit of the instrument can be improved by running multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode to select for the parent and daughter ions. Specific applications in our lab include:

Quantification of Nitrosamines including NDMA in water samples.
Quantification of various disinfection by-products
Measurement of diaxane in environmental samples

Agilent LC-FLD/DAD

The lab includes an Agilent LC with a fluorescence detector coupled with a Diode array detector. The LC is an infinity series 1290 which allows a maximum column temperature of 1200 bar. The instrument is used in to detect compounds that have known fluorophores and produce fluorescence. The DAD measures UV light emitted at 8 different wavelengths. The specific uses in the lab include:

Measurement and quantification of Nonylphenol and Octylphenol in drinking and wastewater.
Quantification of PAH’s in environmental samples.
Detection and quantification of Bisphenol A in water.

Agilent 7700x ICP-MS

Our laboratory features an Agilent 7700x ICPMS that has three different modes of sample introduction, a standard ALS for the batch analysis of liquid samples, along with both a 7890 GC for the chromatographic separation of volatile analytes prior to ICPMS analysis and a 1260 bio-inert LC for the separation of non-volatile analytes from each other prior to analysis. Our upcoming work will employ this instrumental setup, in part, for some of the following projects:

1) Cr(VI)/Cr(III) speciation in environmental water samples

2) Speciation and quantification of iodinated and brominated organic disinfection byproducts in water

3) ¹¹B/¹⁰B isotope ratio studies in river water samples

4) Quantitation of rare earth elements in seawater & brine samples

Agilent GC-ECD/FID

The ECD is electron capture detector attached to GC that measures electron-capturing compounds, such as halogenated compounds (PCBs, Dioxins, etc).

FID is flame-ionized detector attached to GC that measures biochemical compounds, such as pharmaceuticals and proteins, etc.

Agilent (Varian) UV Photospectrometer

In a UV Photospectrometer, a light that has been diffracted into its component wavelengths is passed through a transparent solution containing the compounds of interest. The instrument then measures how much of each wavelength was absorbed. The resulting absorbance spectrum can be compared to a known spectrum for sample identification.

Provides a quantitative estimate of ions or organic/inorganic species
Obtain water parameters such as biological oxygen demand (BOD), total organic carbon (TOC) and aesthetics (color)

Agilent (Varian) Cary Eclipse Fluorometer

The Cary Eclipse Fluorescence Spectrophotometer measures parameters of fluorescence, such as fluorophores intensity and wavelength distribution of emission spectrum after excitation by a certain spectrum of light.
It can be used for analyzing organic compounds such as specific fluorophore, organic matter content and character by using Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM).

Shimadzu TOC Analyzer

The Shimadzu TOC-TN analyzer is capable of Total Carbon (TC), Inorganic Carbon (IC), Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Organic Carbon( TOC = TC-IC), and Non-Purgeable Organic Carbon (NPOC) measurement.

Molecular Devices Microplate Reader

The FilterMax F3 microplate reader allows rapid analysis of 96 to 384-well plates used for bioassays.

Absorbance-based bioassays (AMES II…)
Fluorescence-based bioassay
Luminescence based bioassay

Dionex LC-FLD/DAD

Dionex Autotrace

The autotrace performs automatic solid phase extraction of liquid samples. It automates cartridge conditioning, sample loading and elution of six samples at a time allowing high throughput work. The instrument eliminates wastage of solvent and the need of a technician to perform concentration of samples.

Dionex Automated Solid Extractor (ASE)

Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) is a technique for extracting organic compounds from solid and semisolid samples with liquid solvents. ASE systems use conventional liquid solvents at elevated temperatures and pressures to increase the efficiency of the extraction process. Increased temperature accelerates the extraction kinetics, and elevated pressure keeps the solvent below its boiling point, ensuring safe, rapid extractions. Thus its faster than soxhlet, sonication, and other conditional extraction methods.

Application:

Extracted target chemicals from various environmental matrix including sludge, sediment and biota.

ITT Wedeco Ozone Generator

The ITT/Wedeco laboratory scale ozone generator will create an ozone stock solution of at least 50 mg/L in water chilled down to 1 degrees Celsius using ethylene glycol (green liquid). Ozone is used as an oxidant for the removal of chemicals of emerging concern, oxidizing organic matter, and testing for the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

ITT Wedeco Collimated Beam

The ITT/Wedeco low-pressure collimated beam is used to test advanced oxidation processes or disinfection studies using ultraviolet light at a constant wavelength of 254 nm. The amount of time underneath the UV beam is used to calculate the overall dose. This apparatus can be used for bench studies or as a way to validate UV exposure for flow through systems such as the sensor lab or the AOP pilot.

You are here

Facilities