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Nutrients Division

The Nutrients Division determines concentrations of nutrient series such as nitrogen, phosphorus, silica, and carbon constituents in fresh, brackish, and saline water samples, as well as in solid matrices, including sediment and filters. This laboratory is certified by the Connecticut Department of Public Health for the analysis of nutrients in non-potable waters.

Recent projects supported by the Nutrients Division include:

  • Determination of nutrient concentrations in support of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Long Island Sound and Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Programs.
  • Detection and quantitation of algal and cyanobacterial pigments, including chlorophyll.
  • Nutrient determination for Save the Sound embayment study.
  • Supporting Connecticut limnologists and Lake Associations with analysis for monitoring and management purposes.

Some of our clients and collaborators include:

  •  Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Northeast Aquatic Research
  • Save the Sound
  • Candlewood Lake Authority
  • Northeast Aquatic Research

    Available Instrumentation

    Instruments

    Use
    Seal Analytical AA500 segmented flow analyzer, consisting of 5 channels and one auto sampler  To determine the nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica series; to determine total phosphorus and nitrogen; and to determine other project-specific ions
    Shimadzu TOC-L Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analyzer To analyze carbon series in water
    Perkin-Elmer 2400 Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen (CHN) Analyzer, using high-temperature combustion and detection by thermal conductivity  To determine elemental carbon and nitrogen in solid samples, such as soil, ash, and filters
    ThermoFisher Scientific ICS1100 Ion Chromatograph, equipped with an autosampler and specific analytical columns  To determine anions and cations in water
    Turner Fluorometer  To determine chlorophyll as an indicator of biomass
    Denver Autotitrator  To analyze for alkalinity
    Temperature-monitored walk-in refrigeration room  To store samples
    Vented autoclave  To digest water samples for phosphorus and nitrogen studies
    Temperature-controlled walk-in incubator  To determine biological oxygen demand (BOD)
    Filter apparatus for dissolved and particulate fractions, along with muffle furnace and drying oven  To process samples