EQL—Facilities
The Environmental Quality Lab is an analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratory emphasizing environmental investigations. The EQL is housed in the R. Cathcart Smith Science Building of CCU; it is a 1400 square foot combination laboratories and office, of which 1300 square feet is dedicated laboratory space.
The EQL is a small laboratory designed to produce analytical results of known, documented, and high quality. The laboratory’s analysis activities currently include traditional wet chemical analysis techniques, classical and state-of-the-art instrumental analysis methods, and field measurements using portable analysis equipment.
The laboratory areas include over 100 linear feet of bench space, five fume hoods, and controlled temperature equipment (e.g., refrigerators, freezers, incubators, water baths). Laboratory facilities are temperature and humidity controlled. Laboratory facilities include sufficient bench-top area for processing samples; storage spaces for chemicals, reagents, glassware, and portable equipment; and floor space for stationary equipment. Additional areas in the science building are utilized for sterilizing materials in an autoclave and housing a water purification system (i.e., reverse osmosis).
The laboratory is operated 365 days a year, employing the work hours necessary to complete contracted work and research. All laboratory activities are performed or supervised by the Laboratory Director or the Laboratory Senior Technician.
EQL Capabilities
Currently we have the following capabilities, which include analysis services, field services, and consulting services:
- Anion and major cation analysis by Ion Chromatography
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
- Chlorophyll / Pheophytin
- Conductivity / Salinity
- Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)
- Dissolved Oxygen
- Enterococci bacteria
- Fecal coliform bacteria
- Field sampling and analyses, including from groundwater wells, piers, and small boats
- Hydrogen Ion Concentration (pH)
- Metals analysis by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
- Metals analysis by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
- Microwave digestion capabilities for metals analysis
- Oil and Grease
- Pesticides and other similar organic analytes by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS)
- Quantitative water flow
- Residual Chlorine
- Technical advice and consulting
- Temperature
- Total Nitrogen / Total Phosphorus
- Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
- Total Suspended Solids (TSS) / Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS)
- Turbidity
EQL Equipment
Analytical Procedures
The scope of the laboratory’s chemical and microbiology capabilities extends to sampling programs for municipal and industrial wastewater, groundwater, surface water, and saltwater. The laboratory performs work on a routine basis for university students and faculty, private citizens, local communities, counties, and companies. The lab maintains certifications with South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control appropriate to the categories of testing and data usability requirements. The testing capabilities and techniques utilized include traditional wet chemical analysis techniques, classical and state-of-the-art instrumental analysis methods, and field measurements using portable analysis equipment.
Equipment
The laboratory utilizes all equipment as appropriate and necessary for a given technique, as specified in a referenced method, or as required by regulatory programs. The equipment investment and subsequent capabilities of the EQL are sufficient for the laboratory’s chemical and microbiological testing for environmental investigations and research.
Laboratory Equipment List
- Analytical balances
- Atomic absorption spectrophotometers
- Autoclave
- Bench top conductivity meter
- Bench top turbidity meters
- BOD Incubator
- Building water reverse osmosis purifier
- Centrifuge
- CHNS Analyzer
- Circulating water chiller
- Dessicators
- Drying ovens, muffle furnace
- Electrobalance
- Fiber-Optic colorimeters
- Flame AA
- Fluorometer
- Freeze drier
- Fume hoods
- GC-MS with purge and trap
- Graphite furnace AA
- Hach Spectrophotometers
- Incubators
- Inductive salinometer
- Ion chromatograph
- Laboratory water deionizers
- Laminar flow hood
- Lyophilizers and sonicators
- Main water distiller
- Microscope
- Microwave digestor, solvent extractor
- Nitrate reduction columns
- Packed column GC
- pH/ISE meters
- Portable hand-held meters (conductivity, colorimetery, DO, pH, temperature, turbidity)
- Quanti-Tray sealers
- Refrigerators / freezers
- Shatterbox
- Sonicator
- Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analyzer
- Turbovap
- UV Lamp
- Vacuum pumps
- Waterbaths
- YSI 5100 DO meters (for BOD work)
Field Equipment List
- GPS
- Hach Kits which include: conductivity, colorimetery, DO, pH, temperature, and turbidity meters
- Hydrolab Scout H2O multi-parameter water quality meters
- Plankton nets
- Refractometers
- Remote closing water bottles (General Oceanics 1.2 L, 4 L, and 20 L)
- Secchi disks
- Sediment grab sampler
- Sediment gravity corer
- Small boats and motors
- SonTek Flow Tracker
- Submersible pump
- Subsurface remote-closing sterile water sampler
