Laboratory Analysis
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Chemical Protection, Frequency Monitoring, Height Safety Equipment, Gas Detection, Gas Chromatography, Laboratory Testing Equipment, Liquid Chromatography, Mass Spectroscopy, Spectrometers
Laboratory Analysis Articles
Below is a list of articles that have been published on this topic.
Click on the title to view the whole article
Chromatography - The Science of Separation [Jun 2010]
Measuring the radioactive noble gas Krypton using chromatography
Chromatography is the science of separation, with the analyte of interest being in a mobile phase, passing through a series of stationary phases. This allows the analyte to be isolated for quantification through a wide variety of techniques. This article looks at how chromatography is used to separate the noble gas krypton from air.
Dry Heat and Humidity [Jun 2010]
Laboratory environmental conditions as sources of error
Pipette performance has a direct impact on laboratory data integrity, and numerous variables affect the accuracy and precision of pipettes. Articles in this series have discussed pipetting error caused by mechanical failures1 and improper operator technique2, and how to avoid such error.
Analysis of Water Samples [Jun 2010]
Automated Analysis of PAHs by HPLC in Drinking Water and Surface Water Samples
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a body of legislation that is geared towards achieving “good quality” status for all bodies of water throughout the EU by the year 2015.
Soil Analysis - Determination of different carbon species in soil by high temperature combustion [Mar 2010]
For waste management as well as for geological and environmental research the knowledge of the carbon content alone might be insufficient. Very often a more detailed information about the different species of carbon is required. The most important species are inorganic carbon (TIC), organic carbon (TOC) and sometimes black or elemental carbon (EC). Whereas TIC and TOC are widely known and covered by different international standards [1,], the black carbon is still a parameter under investigation. Several techniques are in use to measure the EC separately from TIC and TOC [2]. High temperature treatment of the sample can help to distinguish between these parameters.
Enviromental Lab Testing [Mar 2010]
Getting the best value from laboratory biodegradability testing by avoiding some common pitfalls.
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Chemical Protection, Frequency Monitoring, Height Safety Equipment, Gas Detection, Gas Chromatography, Laboratory Testing Equipment, Liquid Chromatography, Mass Spectroscopy, Spectrometers
Glove Powder - Friend or Foe? The Hazards Associated with Powdered Gloves [Nov 2009]
Powdered disposable gloves have been a constant feature of our daily life in the laboratory, although increasingly they are being replaced by powder-free gloves. For those of us that have used powdered gloves for many years, the transition to powder free may represent a retrograde step. Powdered gloves are easy to don and even better with prolonged use we do not get the same sweaty sensation as we do with powder-free gloves. Therefore what are the facts surrounding this shift to powder-free gloves and why might it be beneficial for those working in a laboratory.
Spectroscopic Techniques [Jun 2009]
Nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.)
Introduction
In n.m.r. a radio frequency is applied to the substance of interest together with a progressively increasing magnetic field. When the magnetic field is such that the separation of the energy levels it induces corresponds to the energy of a photon of the applied radiation there will be absorption of the radiation and therefore a signal. Nuclei in chemical compounds are not ‘bare’, and the molecular environment of a nucleus influences the spacing of the energy levels and hence the magnitude of the field at which a signal will occur. This is called chemical shift and is of the order of parts per million of the applied field.
Heavy Metal Pollution of Soil [Jun 2009]
The determination of metals in soil through on-site and laboratory analysis
Soil and its uses have been neglected or have been taken for granted for centuries. The human race has been disposing of waste via the soil for as long as we have been on the earth.
Automated Analysis of PAHs by HPLC [Mar 2009]
Lowering operating costs and improving productivity
Automated solid phase extraction (SPE) has been combined with HPLC and fluorescence detection for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water samples. This approach offers lower operating costs and improved productivity as sample numbers increase.
Optimised Process - Laboratories [Dec 2008]
The changing face of environmental testing
Over the last decade, the Environmental Laboratory Business has seen many changes, in no small part due to increasing amounts of environmental legislation and uncertain market conditions. There has been a degree of rationalisation in the market with some smaller laboratories struggling to meet more stringent accreditation requirements and either closing down or being swallowed up by the larger laboratory groups. With the expansion of the EU, the more innovative and customer focused laboratories are now servicing clients from around the globe. This fast changing business landscape has led to a new operational concept being developed, Optimised Process Laboratories.
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Chemical Protection, Frequency Monitoring, Height Safety Equipment, Gas Detection, Gas Chromatography, Laboratory Testing Equipment, Liquid Chromatography, Mass Spectroscopy, Spectrometers
The Impact of Processes and Products [Sep 2008]
The laboratory plays a key role in identifying emerging contaminants
Over the past thirty years, the European Union has introduced a range of legislative measures aimed at improving the quality of the environment. More recently, EC Directives have particularly focussed on the discharge of contaminants into the aquatic environment. The implementation of these directives has delivered significant ecological benefits, but for these to be sustained, investigations into the impact of modern processes and products must continue. The laboratory plays a key role in better understanding these impacts and identifying compounds of detrimental effect to the environment.
Heavy Metal Monitoring [Sep 2008]
Improved data quality, targeted remediation and lower operating costs
The monitoring of heavy metals in our environment has increased significantly in importance over the last few years. The bio accumulative properties and resultant health effects have been well documented, with a monitoring requirement for regulatory compliance the result.
Equilibrium sampling in soil, snow and aquatic ecosystem measurements [Jun 2008]
Soil Exploration Technology
This application note describes the equilibrium sampling method to be used with the Vaisala CARBOCAP® Carbon Dioxide Probe GMP343 for measurements of CO2 concentrations and fluxes in soil, snow or aquatic ecosystems. Some practical hints are provided for the different environments to ensure successful and trouble free measurements. This application note has been prepared in cooperation with Lammi Biological station, Department of Ecological and Environmental Sciences and Department of Forest Ecology at University of Helsinki.
Recent Improvements in Chromatography [Mar 2008]
Improved instrumentation, greater sensitivity and faster analysis
Chromatography is one of the main tools of the environmental analytical chemist in providing detailed information on hundreds of different organic compounds which may be present in the environment. A general introduction to chromatography was provided in this journal last year (Dec 06/Jan 07 issue), giving a description of the basic principles of chromatography and a number of different techniques available for use in the modern laboratory.
Environmental Laboratory Analysis [Jan 2008]
Remain up-to-date with changing legislation and technological advances
Recent technological advances within analytical instrumentation have meant significant enhancements can now be made in the methods of analysis within the Environmental testing market.
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Chemical Protection, Frequency Monitoring, Height Safety Equipment, Gas Detection, Gas Chromatography, Laboratory Testing Equipment, Liquid Chromatography, Mass Spectroscopy, Spectrometers
Putting Smart Molecules to Work [Jun 2007]
A nanotechnology to predict bioremediation potential
For the past six years Alcontrol Laboratories have been working in collaboration with The University of East Anglia and Lancaster University (within the DTI LINK Bioremediation Programme) to establish and validate laboratory methods to assess bioremediation potential of contaminated land. This work has now validated a method that, through the application of ‘smart molecules’, can be used to extract contaminants from soil in a way that reflects their microbial bioaccessibility.
Environmental Laboratory Analysis [Jan 2007]
Remain up-to-date with chaning legislation and technological advances
Recent technological advances within analytical instrumentation have meant significant enhancements can now be made in the methods of analysis within the Environmental testing market.
How Certain is Your Data? [Sep 2006]
An overview of areas of uncertainly that may affect your laboratory results
The awareness of uncertainty associated with laboratory data from contaminated sites has increased significantly in recent years, in the UK partly due to the implementation of the MCERTS standard by the Environment Agency for laboratories involved with testing soil samples, and partly due to general improvements of standards/legislation/controls within the industry itself, e.g. implementation of SiLC (Specialist in Land Contamination) qualifications. Awareness across Europe as a whole is much higher than in the early 1990s, when most countries were implementing Environmental Protection policies of one kind or another.
Environmental Laboratory Testing Contaminated land analysis in the 21st century: A European perspective [Jun 2006]
'In the present advanced state of chemistry, very expensive and complicated instruments are becoming indispensably necessary for ascertaining the analysis ... of bodies with the requisite precision as to quantity and proportion.' Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794) in 'Elements of Chemistry in a New Systematic Order.'
Asbestos Testing & Airborne Fibre Monitoring [Sep 2005]
Quality control requirements and scientific testing methods
Links to Products and Services
You may be interested in the following products and services on our sister site - OSE Directory.
Chemical Protection, Frequency Monitoring, Height Safety Equipment, Gas Detection, Gas Chromatography, Laboratory Testing Equipment, Liquid Chromatography, Mass Spectroscopy, Spectrometers
Field and Continuous Measurements [Mar 2005]
Making Sure We Make the Best Use of Them
The specification and use of online/field instruments and test kits can be a complicated business. Making the wrong choice could prove expensive.
Tim White explores the range of International Standards and related guidance which can help when specifying equipment and validating the data against required performance set by standard methods advocated by regulatory bodies.
