's facility is subdivided into office, laboratory and warehouse areas. The laboratory area is further subdivided into a series of specialized laboratories each equipped with its own HVAC system to preclude cross-contamination of airborne contaminants among the five (5) separate and distinct laboratory units. An extensive ventilation system removes potentially harmful fumes and returns fresh air removed by the exhaust systems. The five laboratories include the following:

A Metals Laboratory that is further divided into three (3) sub-laboratories comprised of preparation, digestion and instrument rooms;

A Wet Chemistry Laboratory for the preparation and analysis of conventional inorganic parameters such as residues, nutrients, oxygen demands, cyanide, phenols, oil and grease, etc.;

An Organic Preparation Laboratory for extraction, concentration, and preparation of organic samples for analysis of semivolatile compounds including pesticides, PCBs, herbicides and other organics by gas chromatograph (GC) and gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) techniques and;

A GC and GC/MS Instrument Laboratory, one for the analysis of volatile organic compounds and the other for the analysis of semivolatile organic compounds.

 
Our laboratories are equipped with new and modern instrumentation to provide accurate, consistent results and dependable performance. Backup equipment or alternate methods of analysis are available for most analyses should primary instrumention fail. All instruments are covered by maintenance/repair service contracts offered by the manufacturer. While the emphasis is on preventative maintenance, these agreements afford us the most rapid means of repair by a manufacturer’s representative in the event of a breakdown or malfunction. We also maintain a large inventory of spare parts to effect repairs not covered by the service contracts or to initiate repairs if service personnel are delayed. All instruments are in very good to excellent condition.

performs a large number and diversity of organic analyses as a result of the sizeable inventory of equipment we have, the EPA and regulatory agency approved methods of analysis we use and because of our extensive expertise. Some of the analyses or groups of compounds our instrumentation is capable of analyzing for include the following:

Purgeable Halocarbons	Puregeable Aromatics	Acrolein & Acrylonitrile
Phenols	Phthalate Esters	Organochlorine Pesticides
PCB’S	Nitroaromatics	Polynuclear Aromatics
Haloethers	Chlorinated Hydrocarbons	Chlorinated Herbicides
Trihalomethanes	Solvents & Thinners	Non-halogenated Volatiles
Semivolatile Organics	Priority Pollutants	Carbamates
GC/MS Scans	Volatile Organics	Organophos Pesticides
TX 1005	TX 1006	TPH-GRO/DRO/ORO

We have the capability to serarch libraries of more than about 100,000 mass spectra to identify non-target compounds or compounds for which there may not be standards available.

has a number of HP/Agilent gas chromatograph systems of various configurations. These systems are top-of-the-line and the industry standard for this type of instrument. They are very versatile, rugged and are readily configured to perform a wide variety of analyses depending upon the detector installed. We also have a Varian Star 3400 CX Gas Chromatograph.

All of our chromatography systems are controlled and the data collected and analyzed using HP Chem Station software. The mass spectrometer systems are additionally equipped with the NIST mass spectra library of more than 75,000 organic compounds to facilitate the identification of non-target compounds.

The following is a list of our gas chromatograph systems. Systems used for the analysis of semivolatile or extractable organics are comprised of three major components: a GC, a detector such as a mass spectrometer (MS) and an autosampler. Volatile systems are somewhat more complex requiring a GC, a detector and a purge and trap (P&T) concentrator coupled to an autosampler. A capillary column of a type appropriate for the analyses performed on the instrument is used by each system.

The following is an abbreviated listing of our organic sample analysis systems.

• Semivolatile Organics by GCMS – Methods 4625/8270	(2 each)
• Volatile Organics by GCMS – Methods 624/8260	(4 each)
• BTEX/MTBE by GC – Methods 602/8021/8015M	(2 each)
• Chlorinated Pesticides/Chlorinated Herbicides & PCBs by GC – Methods 608/617/8081/8082/8151	(2 each)
• Organophosphorus Pesticides by GC – Methods 614/1657/8141	(2 each)
• TPH, TPH Fractions & TPH-DRO by GC – Methods TX 1005/TX 1006/8015M/OA-1/OA-2	(1 each)
• Organic Halogens (TOX, EOX, AOX & TX)	(1 each)
• Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) & Carbamate Pesticides By HPLC Methods – 8310/632	(1each)

Samples for semivolatile organic analysis require extraction and concentration prior to analysis. The quality of the results for many analyses may be improved by using sample extract cleanup techniques. Liquid samples are extracted using automated separatory funnel shakers to provide a consistent, thorough mixing of solvent and liquid samples during the extraction process. This removes the human factor allowing the first extraction to be as precise as the last. Solid samples are extracted using sonic disrupters. The disrupters have tips for both high and low concentration samples and all are tuned prior to use to standardize the performance of each. Cleanup of both liquid an solid sample extracts is accomplished using EPA approved gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques if appropriate for the method of analysis. The laboratory has both single station and automated multiple position usints. Cleanup techniques for additional methods of analysis use florisil, silica gel or other approved chemicals.

’s Metals Laboratory provides an array of metals analysis services. Matrices commonly analyzed for total, dissolved, extractable, leachable and other forms of metals, as appropriate, include: surface, wastewater and groundwater; solid, liquid and hazardous wastes; sludge, sediments and soils; plant and animal tissues and ; other sample matrices. The following are among the metals for which our instrumentation is currently calibrated:

Aluminum	Antimony	Arsenic	Barium	Beryllium	Boron
Cadmium	Calcium	Chromium	Cobalt	Copper	Iron
Lead	Magnesium	Manganese	Mercury	Molybdenum	Nickel
Potassium	Selenium	Silver	Sodium	Strontium	Thallium
Tin	Titanium	Vanadium	Zinc

The metals listed are frequently analyzed, however, other metals may be added to meet your specific needs.

The Metals Laboratory is divided into three separate and distinct sub-laboratories. Samples are readied prior to the digestion process in the preparation room. Samples are homogenized and subsampled, strong acids and oxidizers are added and aliquots of each sample are placed into disposable plastic digestion vessels. These plastic disposable vessels also serve as graduated cylinders and sample storage containers which effectively eliminates the need for glassware cleanup. In the digestion room, samples are heated and allowed to reflux in specially designed HotBlocks to ensure the metals in the sample have been solubilized and are in solution. HotBlocks virtually eliminate corresponding corrosion and the potential for sample contamination prone to other digestion techniques because they are created uing Teflon-coated graphite and other non-metallic materials. The use of these low cost, disposable vessels also hasten and simplify digestion procedures. Heat surronds the digestion vessel and as a result, less energy is required for this cutting edge technology than in traditional acid digestion procedures and a more thorough digestion is performed. This translates into higher quality analysis and data for our valued customers.

When the samples are digested and cooled they are brought into the instrumentation room for analysis. There are three (3) metal analysis instruments each with unique analytical capabilities. They are as follows:

• Thermo Jarrell Ash(TJA) Model 61E Trace Analyzer

• Agilent 7500I ICP-MS

• Cetac M6000A Automated Mercury Analyzer

The simultaneous analysis of a number of major and minor metals at trace and ultratrace levels is accomplished with a Thermo Jarrell Ash (TJA) Model 61E Trace Analyzer system. The 61E analyzes each sample for up to 28 different metals, has a high sample throughput and can run unattended and over night to handle large sample loads with the high capacity random access autosampler.

The Agilent 7500i is the most versatile and highly automated ICP-MS in the world. Innovations in hardware and software design have been seamlessly integrated to create the most productive ICP-MS instrument in the marketplace. Virtually every metal can be run on this instrument. Analyses performed on the Agilent 7500i ICP-MS will achieve lower detection limits previously obtained only by Furnace Atomic Absorption instrumentation. More analytes can be processed in a single run than ever before. For example, ’s Graphite Furnace instrument was only capable of analyzing one metal per sample every six minutes. The new ICP-MS can processes an entire list of metals on a single sample in about this same amount of time!

The Agilent 7500i is equipped with Intelligent Sequencing, which is a powerful QC package that controls sample analysis, performing all calibrations, QC checks and controls. Intelligent Sequencing recognizes most common regulatory designated QC sample types and it provides an automated compliance check of your sample results and instrument tune criteria. Intelligent autodilution allows the analysis of "out of range", QC failure or high concentration analytes to be performed within a single automated run. The system can dilute each sample (to perform sample preparation, for example) or dilute on a QC/single sample basis.

Another great feature of the 7500i is the wide-diameter ICP torch injector, which is used for an improved resistance to clogging with samples you submit that may contain high dissolved solids levels. The high-energy 27.12MHz plasma efficiently breaks down the toughest sample matrices, eliminating the majority of interference at the source, which equals fewer reruns on your samples.

The 7500i is designed to handle the highest workloads and the toughest sample types, it is the ultimate ICP-MS workhorse.

The Cetac M6000A Automated Mercury Analyzer has high sensitivity, high sample throughput and excellent long and short term precision. It is a low maintenance system with high reliability. It has three basic modes of operation: highest sensitivity mode, normal range mode and high throughput mode. The analyzer can achieve detection limits of approximately 0.001 ppb, 0.010 ppb and 0.050 ppb, respectively, in these modes. With the ASX-510 Random Access Auto Sampler, the system has the capacity for 240 samples and 10 standard solutions.

has a Wet Chemistry Laboratory for the preparation and analysis of large numbers of conventional inorganic parameters. The Laboratory is fully staffed with qualified, experienced environmental chemists. It is furnished with modern equipment which aids in rapid and efficient analysis. All regulatory wet chemistry analyses are covered by our NELAP accreditation.

To address parameter specific issues or to tailor analyses to specific requirements, our laboratory can perform a wide variety of test including the following:

• Acidity	• Dissolved Oxygen	• Phenol
• Alkalinity	• Fluoride	• Phosphorus
• Bromide	• Hardness	• Reactivity
• CBOD	• Heterotrophic Plate Counts	• Residues (TSS,TDS,TVS,TS)
• Chemical Oxygen Demand	• Hexavalent Chromium	• Specific conductance
• Chloride	• Ignitability	• Sulfate
• Chlorine	• Iodide	• Sulfide
• Coliform bacteria	• MBAS	• Sulfite
• Color	• Nitrogens	• Total Organic Carbon
• Corrosivity	• Oil & Grease	• Turbidity
• Cyanides	• pH	• Biochemical Oxygen Demand5 & 7

Some of the equipment used in support of these analyses include the following items:

• Dionex DX 500 Gradient Ion Chromatography System

• Tekmar Dohrmann Phoenix 8000 Total Organic Carbon Analyzer

• UV/VIS Spectrophotometers

• YSI 5100 Dissolved Oxygen Systems

• Ion Analyzers and ion specific electrodes (ISEs)

• Parr Bomb calorimeter

• Pensky-Martens Closed-Cup Flashpoint Testers

• Mettler DL18 Karl Fischer Titrators

• Flow Injection Analyzer

A brief overview of several key wet chemistry instruments include the Dionex DX-500 Gradient Ion Chromatograph which is a high performance, ion chromatography system. This popular system can perform a multitude of ion chromatography applications using conductivity detection. It has an outstanding signal-to-noise performance that allows identification of barely detectable peaks.

The Tekmar Dohrmann Phoenix 8000 Total Organic Carbon Analyzer is a true workhorse in the Wet Chemistry Laboratory. This instrument is a dependable, high capacity tool. This instrument utilizes the UV persulfate method of TOC analysis which helps deliver outstanding analytical accuracy, precision and long-term calibration stability. Sample cross contamination concerns are eliminated with a built-in needle rinsing function!

The Wet Chemistry Laboratory is also home to a variety of support equipment which includes glassware, heating blocks, an assortment of incubators, sterilizers, distillation units, hot plates, stirring units, analytical balances, and more. Many of these items are listed below.

• Sample storage refrigerators	• Pipette washing system
• Glassware washer	• BOD sample incubators
• Central vacuum system	• Central air pressure system
• Class A volumetric glassware	• Eppendorf style pipettes
• Repetitive dispensers	• Anion/cation exchange systems
• Conductivity meters	• Ventilation hoods
• Phenol distillation stills	• Standard and reagent refrigerators
• Cyanide distillation stills	• Reactivity distillation apparatus
• Ammonia distillation stills	• Westco TKN hotblock digestion unit
• NIST balance weight set	• NIST thermometer
• NIST digital thermometer	• General use thermometers
• Fisher Genie vortexer	• Centrifuge
• Precision coliform incubator	• Napco incubator
• Water baths	• Muffle furnace
• Various dessicators	• Hach Turbidimeter
• Autoclave	• Filter funnels and manifold
• Mechanical convection ovens	• Orion pH meters
• Hot plates and stirring units	• Various glassware