Wet Chemistry Facilities

NREL maintains an Alpkem Flow Solution IV Automated wet chemistry system (O.I. Analytical, College Station TX). The instrument features a 270 position random access auto sampler and the ability to use either segmented flow analysis (SFA) or flow injection analysis (FIA). Two auto ranging detector channels allow simultaneous measurement of two ionic species at up to 60 samples per hour.Currently available chemistries include:

• Ammonium (NH₄⁺) by segmented flow analysis.
• Nitrate + Nitrite (NO₃^-+NO₂^-) by flow injection analysis.
• Nitrite (NO₂^-) by flow injection analysis.
• Orthophosphate (PO₄^3-) by segmented flow analysis.

The instrument is principally used for analyzing water samples and soil extracts. Current usage is approximately 5000 analyses per year.

NREL is also home to a Shimadzu TOC-Vcpn total organic carbon/total nitrogen analyzer for measuring carbon and nitrogen in aqueous samples (Shimadzu Corp. Kyoto Japan). It uses high temperature catalytic combustion with an infrared detector to measure carbon and a chemo luminescent detector to measure nitrogen. A 68 position autosampler allows unattended operation with a throughput of up to 55 samples per day (plus calibration and quality assurance).

The instrument can be configured to measure:

• total carbon
• total organic carbon
• total inorganic carbon
• total nitrogen
• total carbon/total nitrogen
• total organic carbon/total nitrogen
• Dissolved organic carbon and dissolved nitrogen may be measured by filtering the samples first.
• Organic nitrogen can be determined by measuring the total nitrogen on this instrument and the inorganic nitrogen on the Alpkem.

The instrument is principally used to analyze lake water, stream water, and soil microbial biomass extracts. Current usage is approximately 2000 sample per year.

The instruments are available for use mainly by NREL Principal Investigators but arrangements can be made for use by CSU and other collaborators. See rates or contact Dan Reuss for more information.