NAWA
Nutrient And Water Analysis Research Laboratory
621 Heep Center, 2474 TAMU, College Station TX 77843
Telephone: 979‐845 4005
FACILITIES
The NAWA research laboratory has four rooms. 1. analytical room for analysis of
freshwater and soil solution samples, 2. soil processing and extraction room, 3.
Chemical/soil storage and workshop and 4. small office. A further small office for
three graduate students is adjacent to the lab.
Current Analytical Capabilities
Shimadzu TOC‐VCSH/CSN
TC‐total carbon; IC‐inorganic carbon; NPOC‐non‐purgeable organic carbon and
TN‐total nitrogen. Carbon is quantified using oxidative combustion‐infrared
analysis and nitrogen using oxidative combustion‐chemiluminescence.
Sample size 24 mL.
DIONEX ICS 2000 and DIONEX ICS 1000 Ion Chromatographs
Ion chromatography.
Anions: chloride, bromide, fluoride, nitrite, nitrate and sulfate
Cations: sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium
Sample size: 5 mL
Sorvall RC6 Plus Centrifuge
Speeds up to 52,000 g‐force
Refridgerated
Rotor for 50 mL round‐bottom tubes
8 tubes per run
Westco Scientific – Smartchem Discrete Analyzer
EPA Approved Methods
Alkalinity (EPA 310.2)
Nitrate-Nitrite Cd (EPA 353.3)
Chloride (EPA 310.2)
Phosphorus (EPA: 365.1, 365.2, 365.3 and 4500P-F)
Cyanide (EPA 335.4)
Ammonium (EPA 350.1, SM 4500 NH3-N)
Hardness (EPA 130.1)
Nitrite (EPA 353.2, 354.1)
Phenol (EPA 420.2)
Sulfate SM 4500-G)
Sample size: 2 mL
YSI Dissolved Oxygen meter and incubator
BOD5
QA/AC
For every analysis we do, each run comences with 3 blank samples followed by six standards. After
every 12th sample we run checks of 1 EPA solution, 1 replicate sample, 2 standards and a known
water sample. At the end of the run we run six standards. We look for machine drift (%CV) and
replication (%CV). We aim for < 2% CV for drift and replication. If a run is obviously ‘bad’ samples
are re‐run.
Planned Analytical Capabilities by 2009
Agrispec NIR spectrometer
Chemical analysis of foliage (Lignin, Cellulose and Nitrogen)
Perkin Elmer CHN Analyzer
Carbon and nitrogen in soil, plant and particulates
Sub‐Contracts
Please consider using our lab to run your samples. Our rates are very competitive.
PRICE LIST FOR ANALYSIS
*Water extracts only
Per sample cost
Graduate Students
(including training on instrument andrunning own samples).
Staff will complete full QAQC
*Full set of anions – DIONEX 2000 ICS – run-time 18.5 mins per sample
4.75
*Full set of cations – DIONEX 1000 ICS – run-time 10.0 mins per sample
4.75
Orthophosphate-P – Smartchem – run-time < 1 minute per sample
1.65
Nitrate –N – Smartchem – 1.5 mins per sample
1.95
Ammonium-N – Smartchem – runtime < 1 min per sample
1.65
Alkalinity – Smartchem – runtime < 1 min per sample
1.65
*Non-purgeable dissolved organic carbon PLUS total Nitrogen
TOC-V analyzer – runtime about 8 mins per sample
3.50
BOD5
0.25
Samples run for you
(includes full runsheet with QAQC analysis and results summary)
Add $2 per sample to the above costs to cover staff time in sample preparation,
reagent and standard preparation, instrument set up, QAQC and production of
final file.