Chemical Analysis

The Region 9 Laboratory has a wide range of analytical chemistry capabilities to support environmental decision-making. The Lab provides analysis of environmental samples for organic and inorganic contaminants in a variety of media including water, soil/sediment, air and animal tissue. These analyses provide data for a variety of programs and projects that include, but are not limited to, hazardous waste analyses for inorganic/organic contaminants in support of CERCLA and RCRA; drinking water analyses, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program; conventional water quality monitoring, and air toxics analysis in support of CERCLA and RCRA. Also find more information on Region 9's current projects, and links to anaylytical methods materials.

Analytical Capabilities

General Chemistry Analyses

The Lab performs a full range of classical water quality analyses including:

Alkalinity
Ammonia
Anions
BOD
Cyanide
Hardness
Nitrate/Nitrite-N

Sulfide
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)
Total Organic Carbon
Perchlorate

In addition, the following determinations for soil are performed:

Total organic carbon
Grain Size
Moisture in soil
pH in soil

Metals

Metals in water, soil and animal tissue are determined by a variety of techniques at the Region 9 Laboratory.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICP) - The Region 9 Lab operates
an ICP coupled with an atomic emission spectrometer and an ICP coupled with
a mass spectrometer. After applying one of several digestion techniques to a sample, the digested sample is introduced into the ICP which is capable of measuring up to 24 inorganic elements simultaneously. Concentrations are usually in the parts per billion (ppb) to parts per million (ppm) range.

Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorbance (GFAA) - After applying one of several digestion techniques to a sample, the digested sample is introduced into the GFAA system which measures a single element at a time. Concentrations are usually in the sub ppb range.

Cold Vapor Atomic Absorbance Mercury Analyzer (CVAA) - Is used for determine mercury concentration. Currently a quanitation limit down to 30 ppt is possible.

Typical metals analyses available from the Region 9 Laboratory are:

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

Volatile Organic Chemicals/Pesticides

Gas Chromatography - The Region 9 Laboratory uses several gas chromatographs equipped with different selective detectors to measure a variety of organic chemical constituents in environmental samples. These include:

Petroleum hydrocarbons in water and soil with a GC equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID)

Chlorinated Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in water, soil/sediment and animal tissue with a GC equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD).

1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB) and 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane (DBCP) in water by GC-ECD.

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry - A gas chromatograph (GC) coupled with a mass spectrometer (MS) is used to separate, identify and quantitate volatile organic compounds in water and soil and semivolatile organic compounds in water, soil and animal tissue. The fuel oxygenate, Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) is a recent addition to the target analyte list of volatile organic compounds, bringing the total number of compounds on the list to 42. The target analyte list of semi-volatile organic compounds includes over 60 compounds including phenol, naphthalene, and benzo(a)pyrene.

Pesticide Screening by Immunoassay - Using an immunochemical analytical technique (ELISA), the Region 9 Lab can analyze samples for individual pesticides. This method can be applied to either solid or liquid media and offers fast turnaround time and low cost relative to traditional pesticide methods. ELISA (short for Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay) is not suitable for compliance monitoring purposes, although it can provide determinative data for preliminary sample screening in a larger study.

Air Toxics

Using a cryofocusing preconcentrator and a GC/MS, the Region 9 Laboratory analyzes for 39 volatile organic compounds in air down to the 1 ppb level. The procedures used are consistent with EPA Methods TO-14 and TO-15.

Other Analyses

Bulk Asbestos by Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)

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Current and Recent Projects

The Region 9 Laboratory is committed to keeping up with the evolving needs of our clients. In this regard, the following projects are currently under development.

Speciation of Ambient PM2.5 Air Samples
To support the new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5 the Laboratory is investigating development of analytical capabilities related to elemental speciation of airborne fine particles using a scanning electron microscope.

Radon in Drinking Water
In anticipation of the Radon rule, the Lab is exploring development of methodology for measuring radon in drinking water samples via liquid scintillation.

Pollution Prevention
The Laboratory currently recycles methylene chloride to reduce laboratory waste and has an ongoing commitment to obtain new instrumentation and develop new methodology to reduce solvent use, energy use and laboratory waste.

Expansion of Air Toxics Analyses
On a case by case basis, per clients’ requests, the lab is able to expand its target analyte list to include an additional 25 volatile organic compounds, including methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE). In addition, the lab is exploring the possibility of further expanding it air toxics analysis capabilities by adding analysis of sulfur compounds and by developing Selective Ion Monitoring (SIM) procedures to achieve lower detection limits.

Atmospheric Mercury Measurements
The lab is currently working on developing monitoring capabilities for the measurement of ambient mercury levels in vapor-phase, as reactive-phase and on particles.

Tribal Survey of Arsenic in Drinking Water
The lab is currently supporting the Tribal drinking water system arsenic survey by analyzing close to 1000 drinking water samples from Tribal water systems.

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Links to Analytical Methods Materials

If you need more information on EPA analytical methods, check these locations on EPA’s National Web Sites.

General

EPA Test Method Index
To identify a source and vendor from which any EPA method can be obtained, either free or for a fee.

Sources of EPA Test Method Index
A listing of sources cited in the EPA Test Method Index.

Superfund

Contract Laboratory Program
Statement of Work for organic, inorganic and low concentration organic analyses.