KFLEB has recently combined with the Goldwater Environmental Laboratory (GEL) to form the Metals, Environmental and Terrestrial Analytical Laboratory (METAL), one of Arizona State University’s Core Research Facilities. This website (kfleb.org) is dedicated primarily to KFLEB instrumentation, capabilities, and practices. Please see our ASU-hosted website for a complete list of our expanded instrumentation and capacities. This page gives an overview of GEL instrumentation and capacities. METAL’s facilities in the Goldwater building house instrumentation for elemental analysis, surface area and porosity measurements, gas chromatography and isotopic analysis of greenhouse gases, ion chromatography, and both discrete and flow-injection colorimetric analyses. In addition, our Thermo iCAP6300 ICP-OES is capable of rapid, simultaneous measurement of up to 70 elements in aqueous and organic solutions and is equipped with an auto-sampler with a capacity of up to 240 samples. The dual view design offers the flexibility of axial view for lowest detection limits and radial view for reduced interferences. This is ideal for complex samples encountered in environmental research. For questions about GEL instrumentation, capabilities, and practices please contact Gwyneth Gordon (gwyneth.gordon@asu.edu) and Sarah Kempes (sarah.kempes@asu.edu).
Agilent 7890 GC System
This gas chromatography analyzer is set up to quantify three common greenhouse gases simultaneously. The analysis of air and headspace gas content is useful for environmental monitoring, soil gas flux, catalysis research, closed chamber respiration studies and more. The flame ionization detector signals for methane (CH4) and the micro-cell electron capture detector will detect nitrous oxide (N2O) content. A third Li-820 detector directly measures carbon dioxide (CO2). Automated injections allow for swift and simultaneous analysis. Other analysis such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) may also be analyzed. Common applications include detection of greenhouse gases CO2/CH4 and N2O via Li-820 CO2 detector, FID for CH4 and ECD for N2O.
BET Tristar II 3020
The Tristar II 3020 provides high-quality surface area and porosity measurements on solid materials by using the technique of gas adsorption. The TriStar II is a fully automated, three-station analyzer capable of increasing the speed and efficiency of quality control analyses, with the accuracy, resolution, and data reduction to meet most research needs.
Picarro CRDS
The Picarro G2201-i CRDS analyzer is capable of simultaneous measurement of carbon isotopes from both CO2 and CH4. The G2201-i operates in one of three modes: CO2-only mode, 4-only mode, and combined CO2/4 mode. The Small Sample Isotope Module 2 (SSIM2) expands the measurements that can be made with the Picarro δ13C analyzers for CO2 and 4. This allows user to run gas samples as small as 20 ml at ambient CO2 or CH4 concentrations, measure microliter volumes of high-concentration samples with built-in dilution capability, or inject samples by syringe
PerkinElmer 2400 CHN Eemental Analyzer
The PE 2400 is a conventional elemental analyzer. It operates by flash combustion of the specimen encapsulated in tin cups or disks whereby the specimen is completely combusted at a temperature of 1,760 C. The resulting gases are chemically scrubbed of the halogens (and of sulfur in the CHN mode) and are separated in a GC column. Detection is conducted by a thermal conductivity detector. Total C, H and N are calculated with a precision of 0.1g. Element ratios are more significant since they minimize instrument error. Molar element ratios may be reliably reported for up to three decimal places.
Seal AQ2 Discrete Analyzer
The AQ2 system is a flexible automated analyzer that uses the principle of discrete analysis, where each test occurs in a separate or discrete reaction vessel. The AQ2 is ideal for measuring dissolved nutrients and other constituents in aqueous samples, extracts and digestions. It is most useful when many and varied tests are needed on different samples and/or individual results are needed immediately. The sample and reagents are incubated in the reaction wells for a pre-programmed time. A single aliquot is then transferred into a 10 mm 100% optical glass cuvette. The absorbance is read on the stationary reactant to ensure the best possible signal to noise ratio. Methods include: alkalinity ammonia chloride cyanides nitrate/nitrite nitrite nitrogen, total (persulfate) phenolics phosphate, ortho phosphorus, total (persulfate) silicate sulfate.
Lachat QC 8000 Flow injection Analyzer
The QC 8000 determines analyte concentrations using colorimetry to detect changes in color produced by the presence of analytes. It is typically used for automated testing of water, wastewater and sea water. It is capable of measuring a wide range of analytes, given the appropriate manifold configuration and filter. Currently we are able to measure ammonia, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, total nitrogen (using an in-line digestion), orthophosphate, total phosphorus (using an in-line digestion), and alkalinity (methyl orange as a function of CaCO3). It can be expanded to measure dozens of other analytes as well. The instrument is equipped with a 360 position autosampler for multiple sample analysis and an autodilutor for dilution of off-scale samples. It is capable of processing a combination of two analytes simultaneously.
Themo iCAP 6300 OES
The iCAP is capable of rapid, simultaneous measurement of up to 70 elements in aqueous and organic solutions and is equipped with an autosampler with a 240 sample capacity. The dual view design offers the flexibility of axial view for lowest detection limits and radial view for reduced interference, ideal for complex samples often encountered in environmental research. Full frame imaging produces a picture of a sample and can be a useful qualitative tool in determining sample composition. Detection limits vary by element but are typically in the low to sub-ppb (ug/L) level.
Dionex ICS-1000 and Dionex ICS-2000 Ion Chromatography
The IC systems determines analyte concentrations using chromatography columns and a pulsed electrochemical conductivity detector. They are typically used for automated testing of aqueous solutions and are capable of measuring a wide variety of ions, given the appropriate eluant and analytical column. Currently, we are able to measure the major anions — fluoride, chloride, bromide, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and sulfate, as well as numerous other anions using an AS23 column. It can be reconfigured to analyze cations if required. The autosampler will accommodate up to 66 vials of 5 mL size, 88 vials of 0.5 mL size or a combination of the two sizes. The ICS1000 offers low sensitivity, while the ICS-2000 instrument is configured as a 2 mm system for high-sensitivity (sub-ppb) analysis. It is equipped with a potassium hydroxide eluent generator capable of gradient or stepped analysis and a column heater. These features offer improved peak resolution and sensitivity compared to the ICS-1000 system. Sample filtration via a 0.45-micron pore size filter (or smaller) is required.
Shimadzu TOC-V
The Shimadzu TOC-VC/TN analyzes liquid samples for total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), total organic carbon (TOC), and non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC). The TN unit allows for simultaneous TOC and Total Nitrogen (TN) analysis. A known amount of sample is introduced into the instrument and is either combusted (TC, TOC, NPOC) or acidified and purged (IC). Carbon content is measured as CO2 by non-dispersive infrared gas analysis. The TOC-VC combustion analyzer has a measuring range of 1 mg C/L to 25,000 mg C/L with reproducibility of 1.5% CV. It has a wide range of applications from ultra-pure water to highly contaminated water. It is capable of multiple standard level and multiple constituent analyses in a single automated run.