Analytical Chemistry Capabilities
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
- Ion Chromatography (IC)
- Gas Chromatography (GC)
- Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
- Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption (GFAAS)
- Flame Atomic Absorption (AA)
- Wet Chemistry
Summary
The TMWA Water Quality (WQ) Laboratory located at the Glendale Water Treatment Plant is a fully equipped analytical chemistry laboratory with instrumental capabilities in ICP-MS, IC, GC, TOC, GFAA, Flame AA, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, as well as various wet chemistry tests. This document summarizes the analytes that the WQ lab is certified for by the State of Nevada and also provides some additional information on the capabilities of the existing analytical instrumentation in TMWA's WQ Laboratory.
I. Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS)
In late 1999, the Water Quality Lab purchased and has made full use of a state-of-the-art Perkin Elmer ELAN 6100 ICP-MS. The Elan 6100 is capable of detection and quantification of most of the elements in the Periodic Table. In terms of drinking water analysis, TMWA's Water Quality Lab currently utilizes the instrument for the analysis of the 15 elements listed in Table 1, with mercury soon to be added as an analyte the WQ lab is fully certified for under EPA Method 200.8. These elements are listed in EPA Method 200.8 as acceptable for analysis via ICP-MS and TMWA's lab is certified for the determination of these analytes by the State of Nevada. In addition to the certified analytes, the ICP-MS is also capable of detection and quantification of the analytes listed in Table 2. Most of these analytes are not eligible for certification under Method 200.8, but the instrument provides high quality data for these constituents that is valuable in research and in-house studies.
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Table 1:
Certified Analytes with ELAN 6100 ICP-MS (EPA Method 200.8 |
| Analyte |
| Aluminum |
| Antimony |
| Arsenic |
| Barium |
| Beryllium |
| Cadmium |
| Chromium |
| Copper |
| Lead |
| Manganese |
| Mercury* |
| Nickel |
| Mercury* |
| Selenium |
| Silver |
| Thallium |
| Zinc |
* Certification Pending Approval of PE results
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Table 2:
A Partial List of Additional Analytical Capabilities of ICP-MS (Drinking Water Related) |
|
| Analyte | Currently Certified Y/N |
| Boron | N |
| Vanadium | N |
| Molybdenum | N |
| Magnesium | Yes - See Flame AA section (SM3111B) |
| Sodium | Yes - See Flame AA section (SM3111B) |
| Potassium | Yes - See Flame AA section (SM3111B) |
| Cobalt | N |
| Thorium | N |
II. Ion Chromatography
The Dionex DX-500 ion chromatograph (IC) is an extremely versatile analytical instrument that currently is utilized for the analysis of regulated anions under EPA Method 300.0. The applicable compounds are listed in Table 3. The instrument is equipped with absorbance, conductivity, and amperometric detectors, which significantly increases the range of applicable analytes for this instrument. The IC can be effectively used for detection of organic/inorganic cations and anions. In addition to routine anion analysis, the instrument's capabilities have been utilized for projects ranging from speciation of arsenic in groundwater to detection of low-level (<0.1 ppm) lithium (Li) in tracer studies of both the Chalk Bluff and Glendale Treatment Plant Clearwells.
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Table 3:
Analytes Measurable via Ion Chromatography |
| Analyte |
| Fluoride |
| Chloride |
| Nitrite |
| Nitrate |
| Phosphate |
| Sulfate |
| Disinfection By-Products Certifiable under EPA 300 or 300.1 |
| Bromide |
| Bromate |
| Chlorite |
| Chlorate |
| Additional Parameters |
| Perchlorate |
III. Gas Chromatography (GC)
TMWA's Water Quality Lab currently has two Hewlett Packard 5890 Series II Gas Chromatographs (GC). One of the instruments is equipped with an OI Model 4560 Purge and Trap autosampler for the analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds under EPA Method 502.2 (see Table 4). The other instrument is equipped with a Hewlett Packard 7673 autosampler/injector and is used for the analysis of Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) under EPA Method 552.2 (also in Table 4).
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Table 4: Applicable Analytes via Gas Chromatography |
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| Phase I/II VOCs | Unreg VOC's (State Required Monitoring) |
| Vinyl Chloride | Chloroform |
| Benzene | Bromodichloromethane |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Chlorodibromomethane |
| 1,2 Dichloroethane | Bromoform |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) | Dibromomethane |
| para-Dichlorobenzene | m - Dichlorobenzene |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 1,1 - Dichloropropene |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 1,1 - Dichloroethane |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1,1,2,2 - Tetrachloroethane |
| 1,2-Dichloroproipane | 1,3 - Dichloropropane |
| Ethylbenzene | Chloromethane |
| Monochlorobenzene | Bromomethane |
| o - Dichlorobenzene | 1,2,3 - Trichloropropane |
| Styrene | 1,1,2,2 - tetrachloroethane |
| Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) | Chloroethane |
| Toluene | 2,2 - Dichloropropane |
| trans - 1,2 - Dichloroethylene | o-Chlorotoluene |
| Xylenes (total) | p-Chlorotoluene |
| PHASE V VOC's | Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) |
| Dichloromethane | Bromoacetic Acid |
| 1,2,4 - Trichlorobenzene | Bromochloroacetic Acid |
| 1,1,2 - Trichloroethane | Chloroacetic Acid |
| ---- | Dibromoacetic Acid |
| ---- | Dichloroacetic Acid |
| ---- | Trichloroacetic Acid |
IV. Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
TMWA's WQ Lab has an OI Model 1010 TOC analyzer that is used for the determination of organic carbon content in raw and finished waters, as well as profiling TOC removals through the treatment plants. TOC is an analyte that the WQ lab is certified for by the State of Nevada. In addition to TOC, the instrument can be used for the determination of Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC), Total Carbon (TC), and Total Organic Halides (TOX) if desired.
V. Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (GFAAS)
GFAAS is currently used for the analysis of several metals under EPA Method 200.9. These analyses are performed with a Perkin Elmer 4100 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The AA will most likely have a diminishing role in the laboratory due to the addition of the ELAN 6100 ICP-MS, but the AA still is a valuable instrument for the analyses of a few metals not certifiable under EPA Method 200.8 (ICP-MS). A list of the current analytes TMWA's WQ Lab is certified to analyze via EPA Method 200.9 is provided in Table 5.
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Table 5: Analytes via EPA Method 200.9 (GFAAS) |
| Analyte |
| Arsenic |
| Chromium |
| Cadmium |
| Nickel |
| Manganese |
| Iron |
| Beryllium |
| Selenium |
| Thallium |
| Lead |
VI. Flame AA
The Perkin Elmer 4100 also has flame capabilities and the WQ Lab at TMWA is certified by the State of Nevada for the determination of several analytes under Standard Method (SM) 3111B. These analytes are listed in Table 6 below.
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Table 6: Analytes via SM 3111B (Flame AA) |
| Analyte |
| Copper |
| Iron |
| Sodium |
| Nickel |
| Manganese |
| Potassium |
| Zinc |
VII. Wet Chemistry
Several analytes are determined via wet chemistry methods in the WQ Lab at TMWA. A list of the analytes that TMWA is certified for by the State of Nevada is provided in Table 7.
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Table 7: General Wet Chemistry/UV-Vis Analytes |
| Analyte |
| pH |
| Calcium |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) |
| Total Suspended Solids (TSS) |
| Free & Total Chlorine Residual |
| Free & Total Chlorine Residual |
| Hardness |
| Alkalinity |
| Specific Conductance |
| Color |
| Temperature |
| Turbidity |
