Environmental Analytical Laboratory
EAL
The MLML Environmental Analytical Laboratory (EAL) specializes in the analysis of dissolved inorganic nutrients—including nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, orthophosphate, and silica—in freshwater and seawater samples. These measurements are essential for assessing ecosystem health, nutrient cycling, and human impacts on water quality.
Samples are analyzed colorimetrically using a Lachat QuickChem 8000 Flow Injection Analyzer, a five-channel system that allows simultaneous measurement of all analytes in a single sample aliquot.
EAL offers analytical services at a per-sample rate and provides access to instrumentation for qualified users. This website includes details on lab capabilities, instrumentation, analytical protocols, and quality control procedures. Please explore the pages relevant to your research needs.
Contact Information:
Quality Assurance/Quality Control analysis is also conducted on each run. We follow the State of California Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) Quality Assurance Program Plan to the best of our ability.
FRESHWATER AND SEA WATER SAMPLE EQUIPMENT:
Lachat Quickchem 8000 Flow Injection Analyzer
- Ammonium
- Nitrate
- Nitrite
- Orthophosphate
- Silica
- Urea
$22 / sample (up to 5 analytes)
$25 / sample (porewater)
$3 / sample for filtering (if samples arrive unfiltered)
- Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
- Total Nitrogen (TN)
$20 / sample
Note:
- A minimum of 15 mL of sample is required!
- Samples will be frozen immediately upon arrival unless arrangements have been made to analyze unfrozen samples. Unfrozen samples must be analyzed within 48 hours and require prior approval.
- A chain of custody form must be filled out completely for all batches of samples. The COC can be downloaded from this page or filled out at MLML during sample drop-off (please make appointment with MLML'S Nutrient Analysis Lab Technician:
Steve Cunningham at steven.cunningham@sjsu.edu
All small sample batches (<10 samples) will be charged an additional fee of $50
