Research Initiatives and Ultra-trace Metals Testing Facilities

Inorganic Chemistry | Trace Metals | Conventional Chemistry | Certification

The WSLH Inorganic Chemistry Unit actively participates a variety of research initiatives with their partners in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Wisconsin Water Chemistry Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other mid-western state governmental agencies. The unit performs research involving comprehensive analysis for ultra-trace metals in water, wastewater air and biological materials, and analysis of minerals, metals, nutrients, oxygen demand and other constituents in a variety of matrices using state-of-the-art instrumentation. The unit offers these analytical services to university and governmental agency researchers across the country. The unit is located in a new 36,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Madison, Wisconsin.

Ultra-trace Metals Testing

The WSLH provides full ultra-trace metals, mercury and conventional chemistry testing services to meet the needs of university and governmental agency researchers. The WSLH can provide a full package from ultra-trace metals sampling using "Clean Sampling Protocol" pioneered by the University of Wisconsin, analysis in a state-of-the-art Trace Metal Clean Laboratory using EPA 1600 series methods and data evaluation by geochemists and researchers from the University of Wisconsin Water Chemistry Program. WLSH staff will work with prospective researchers to identify the appropriate analytical techniques required to meet the data quality objectives desired.

Unique Facilities

The WSLH facility contains a Trace Metal Clean Laboratory (TMCL) that was designed to permit the analysis of ultra-trace metals in environmental samples at the part per trillion levels. Features of the TMCL include:

• Construction from primarily non-metal materials All plastic cabinetry HEPA filtered supply air Room is kept at positive pressure Anteroom isolates the TMCL from the rest of the laboratory Minimal use of metal construction materials All structurally required metal components are epoxy coated Routine room particle monitoring Equivalent to class 5000 design Work zones of class 10 Two state-of-the-art ICP-MS Research grade atomic fluorescence spectrometer for ultra-trace mercury analysis
• Two laminar-flow clean benches, one HEPA filtered polypropylene exhausting hood and two polypropylene exhausting hoods.

Special Trace-element Instrumentation

VG PQ ExCell ICP-MS

• Fully automated Infinity lens which reduces background nose to 0.1 CPS and high signal-to-noise ratio Peltier-stabilized, inert, sample introduction system. Collision cell technology enables the selective attenuation of many of the traditionally problematic polyatomic interferences. Capable of quantifying elements at the ppt level. Fully interfaced HPLC to facilitate speciation of arsenic, chromium and selenium in environmental samples.
• Housed in the TMCL

VG PlasmaQuad PQ ICP-MS

• Very reliable ICP-MS Capable of quantifying elements at the ppt level Various sample introduction systems including ultrasonic and microconcentric nebulization facilitate analysis at levels that will meet the client's data quality objectives. Click here for a listing of detection capabilities.
• Housed in the TMCL

Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer

• Brookes-Rand detector Gold amalgam trap for improved detection limits
• Housed in the TMCL