Analytical Services

The Metal Chemistry Analysis Laboratory offers a range of analytical services to measure metals and mercury in a variety of matrices (e.g., water, soils, tissues, filters). Analytical capabilities include processing (e.g., microwave digestion) and analysis of metals by ICP-MS, mercury and methylmercury by AAS and CVAFS, metal species by LC-ICP-MS (arsenic, chromium, selenium, antimony), DOC and DOM optical measurements, and sulfide. These services are available to members of UC Davis, other UC campuses, and external clients. 

Inquires regarding analytical services can be sent to: [email protected]. 

Analytical Costs

 

Microwave 

Digestion

ICP-MS

 multielement

ICP-MS

single element

LC-ICP-MS

(Cr, As, Sb, Se; per element)

DOC + UV/FlourTotal Hg, Combustion (CVAAS)Water or Sediment, HgT (CVAFS)Water or Sediment, MeHg (CVAFS)Water or Sediment, THg+MeHg (ID-ICPMS) Sulfide, ISE
UC Affiliate$25/sample$72/sample$41/sample$273/sample$42/sample$29/sample$53/sample$126/sample$335/sample$24/sample

External Costumer

(non-profit)

$38/sample$108/sample$62/sample$414/sample$64/sample$45/sample$81/sample$191/sample$508/sample$37/sample

External Customer

(for profit)

$40/sample$113/sample$65/sample$433/sample$67/sample$47/sample$85/sample$200/sample$531/sample$38/sample

Metal Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

  • Instrument:  Thermo Scientific iCAP RQ ICP-MS
  • Collision Cell: He of H2 gas  
  • Uses: (1) Total element analysis of liquids or digestions (soils, sediments, tissues). (2) Element speciation by LC-ICP-MS (Se, As, Cr, Sb). (3) Methylmercury by isotope dilution GC-ICP-MS. (4) Stable isotope tracking for experiments with mercury. 
  • Services: 
    • Single-element analysis
    • Multi-element analysis
    • Element speciation (Cr, As, Sb, Se)
  • Detection Limit: Element specific (0.001 - 1 μg/L)                                                                                                      
Lab bench with an instrument left and clear hood with reagent bottles right.
iCAP RQ ICP-MS

 

Total and Methylmercury Analysis by Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy

  • Instrument:  Brooks Rand MerxM and MerxT.
  • Uses: (1) Total mercury in liquids by CVAFS. (2) Methylmercury in liquids or extracts by distillation and GC-CVAFS analysis.
  • Detection Limit: Total Hg detection limit of ~50 pg/L and methylmercury detection limit of ~40 pg/L (determined daily).                                                                                      
Instruments for measurements of mercury and methylmercury
Brooks Rand MerxT (left) and MerxM (right) instruments

 

Total Mercury Analysis by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

  • Instrument:  Milestone DMA-80
  • Uses: Total mercury in solids (e.g., soils, sediments, biota) by thermal decomposition and atomic absorption detection.
  • Detection Limit:  ~0.3 ng of total Hg                                                                                  
Clinical chemistry analyzer (blue-white) with open compartment on lab bench
Milestone DMA-80 Direct Mercury Analyzer

Dissolved Organic Carbon

  • Instrument:  Shimadzu TOC-L
  • Uses: Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in liquids by high temperature catalytic combustion.
  • Detection Limit:  0.2 mgC/L                                                                                     
Autosampler carousel and benchtop analyzer on lab bench with solvent bottle and cables
Shimadzu TOL-C (DOC measurement)

 

Dissolved Organic Matter Absorbance and Fluorescence

  • Instrument: Horiba Scientific Aqualog
  • Uses: Dissolved organic Matter (DOM) UV-vis absorption and fluorescence
  • Detection Limit:  NA                                                                                     
Benchtop HORIBA Aqualog spectrometer with blue panels on lab bench
Aqualog UV-vis Absorption and Fluorescence Spectrophotometer

Microwave Digestion

  • Instrument: Milestone Ethos UP and Labcon freezer drier
  • Uses: Digestion of solids and liquids for subsequent analysis for trace and major metals (e.g., ICP-MS).                                                                                
Lab bench with freeze-dryer, vacuum pump, and white incubator.
Milestone Microwave Digestor (right) and freeze drier (left)

 

Trace Metal Clean Flow and Laminar Fume Hoods

Illuminated laboratory hood with pipette tip boxes, racks and bottles
Polypropylene laminar fume hood

             

Open white laminar flow hood on a lab bench with nearby supplies and shelving
Polypropylene laminar flow hood