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Analytical Laboratory

Student in laboratory

 

The CERE lab routinely analyzes plant, soil and water samples. Some of the analyses we perform with our instruments are listed below. The CERE lab is willing to work with researchers in developing methods for which we have the instrument capacity. Please contact us to determine if we have the capability to conduct analyses that may not be listed below.

  • Nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, orthophosphate in liquid samples
  • Anions in liquid samples
  • Dissolved organic and inorganic carbon and total nitrogen in liquid samples
  • Total carbon in solid samples
  • pH and EC

Instruments

WestCo Scientific SmartChem Discrete Analyzer


 

SmartChem

 

Our SmartChem is a discrete chemical automated analyzer that uses colorimetric analyses to determine the concentration of analytes in liquid samples. Currently, we have developed methods for nitrate/nitrite,ammonia and orthophosphate.

DIONEX Ion Chromatograph


 

SmartChem

 

Our ion chromatograph (IC) separates anions in liquid samples based on their charge. We can analyze for six anions simultaneously on a single sample: fluoride, chloride, bromide, nitrate, nitrite and sulfate.

Shimadzu TOC/TN and SSM module


 

Shimadzu

The Shimadzu TOC/TN is an instrument that measures the amount of total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC) and total organic carbon (TOC) and non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC) in water using oxidative combustion-infrared analysis. Through oxidative combustion-chemiluminescence, total nitrogen (TN) can also be measured on the same sample. This instrument is also configured to run TC on solid samples (e.g., soil, plant material) using the attached solid state module (SSM).