Laboratory of Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection
The Laboratory of Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection specialises in the analysis of the physical and chemical properties of water, soil, sediments and biological materials, in accordance with current regulations and Polish Standards.
The Laboratory offers biogeochemical and toxicological analyses of environmental samples as well as analyses of biological materials. Its portfolio includes analytical and research and development services, consulting, and environmental expertise in the fields of environmental monitoring, protection and restoration, as well as environmental impact assessment.
The Laboratory also provides specialist training and organises short-term internships. Its services are addressed to research institutions and organisations from the public and industrial sectors.
The Laboratory holds a Testing Laboratory Accreditation Certificate issued by the Polish Centre for Accreditation, accreditation No. AB 1525.
Scope of Services
Physicochemical Analysis of Water
pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, determination of anions (N-NH4, N-NO3, P-PO4, S-SO4) using spectrometric methods with a continuous flow analyser (CFA), SAN++ model; elemental composition determined using spectrometric methods (FAAS, GF AAS, ICP-MS); TOC/TIC carbon content determined by the combustion method using a TOC/TN analyser, multi N/C 3100; mercury content determined using a Milestone DMA-80 mercury analyser; and other analyses.
Physicochemical Analysis of Soil, Sediments and Biological Materials
pH, dry matter and dry residue, determination of anions (N-NH4, N-NO3, P-PO4, S-SO4) using spectrometric methods, elemental composition determined using spectrometric methods (FAAS, GF AAS, ICP-MS), TOC/TIC carbon content determined using a CHNS FLASH 2000 CHNS/O + MAS200R elemental analyser, mercury content determined using a Milestone DMA-80 mercury analyser, and other analyses.
Analysis of Organic Substances in Water, Soil and Sediments, Including:
- qualitative and quantitative analysis of cyanotoxins using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS, Q-TOF);
- qualitative and quantitative analysis of organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS);
- qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic matter content, including lipid composition, in soil and sediments using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Stable Isotope Analysis
Analysis of the stable isotope composition of 13C and 15N in solid samples.
Additional service: We collect environmental samples in the field. The Laboratory has off-road vehicles and measuring equipment for carrying out basic water quality measurements in the field.
Equipment
- UltraWAVE microwave digestion system with SRC single reaction chamber technology
- Speedwave Four Berghof pressurised microwave digestion system
- Kjeltec 8200 distillation unit with digestion block and titrator
- ContrAA++ atomic absorption spectrometer with flame and graphite furnace atomisation
- SAN++ continuous flow analyser (CFA)
- multi N/C 3100 TOC/TN analyser for the determination of total organic carbon and total nitrogen
- DMA-80 mercury analyser
- CHNS FLASH 2000 CHNS/O + MAS200R elemental analyser
- Specord 200 Plus UV-VIS spectrophotometer and DR 5000 UV-VIS spectrophotometer
- NexION 300 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS)
- isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) for light stable isotope analysis
- Soxtec 2055 semi-automatic extraction system
- DIONEX ASE 350 automated solvent extractor
- Hei-VAP Advantage series rotary evaporator
- 6890N gas chromatograph with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD)
- 7890B/5977A/CTC gas chromatograph with a mass selective detector (GC/MSD)
- Agilent 6500 Series Q-TOF liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system (LC/MS)