Inorganic Chemistry & Metal Analysis
Universal Laboratories inorganic chemistry department consists of the classical wet chemistry methodology as well as several more modern instrumental procedures. The classical tests and procedures measure the development of color, color changes, the intensity of color development and the loss or gain of weight. The instrumental procedures include such methods as TOC, and TOX/TOH while method development and modification includes development of specialty testing methods for clients, such as ISO Method 9509 Water quality – Toxicity test for accessing the inhibition of nitrification of activated sludge microorganism.
Also included in the inorganic chemistry group are preparation steps for matrices other than water. This includes the toxic characteristic leaching procedure or TCLP preparation that simulates the effect of weakly dissociated acids in soils relative to their ability to dissolve and leach contaminates from land filled materials. Samples such as soil, oil, sludge and other solid material are prepared or made amenable to analysis by these procedures as well as for metals analysis.
Metals analyses are performed by atomic absorption or emission using several types of instrumentation. Universal Laboratories currently uses flame atomic absorption (FAA), graphite furnace atomic absorption (GFAA) and inductively coupled argon plasma (ICP). The selection of instrumentation is determined by matrix, method reference specified and detection limit (DL) or practical quantification level (PQL) required.
Universal Laboratories routinely performs inorganic and metals analysis on a wide array of matrices in support of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource and Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Underground Storage Tank (UST) regulations.
