WATER ANALYSIS

Actlabs offers a range of ground, waste and drinking water testing in support of baseline studies site remediation, and other projects.

Inorganic Analysis

Code E6 ICP-MS is applicable only to natural waters with low total dissolved solid content (<0.05%). Any individual cations greater than the dynamic range of the ICP-MS will be reported as (>) unless the Overrange option is chosen. Samples submitted under all Code 6 packages will be analyzed on the supernatant portion of waters as received, acidified to pH <2 without filtration or digestion. Samples submitted as natural waters, but with elevated total dissolved solids (TDS >0.05%) will be charged as E6 MB. Analysis of waste waters and other solutions are available, but at varying costs. Please inquire. For hydro samples being analyzed by ICP-MS or by Ion Chromatography, please include field TDS/conductivity measurements, if available.

code
Code E6 ICP-MSNatural Waters with low TDS (<0.05%)
Code E6 OverrangeOverrange elements in Code E6 MB reanalyzed by ICP-OES or ICP-MS if required
Code E6 HgHg(+) option on separate sample by FIMS
Code E6 BoronBoron add-on by ICP-MS
Code E6 FilterSample filtered with 0.45µ filter
* Code  E6 MBMarine Water, Brines or other aqueous solutions with TDS > 0.05%
Code E6 ENVIRWhere Chain-of Custody for legal defense is required
Code E6 ICP-OESWater analysis by ICP-OES for 36 elements
* Code  E6 ICP-OES MBHydrogeochemistry ICP-OES for Marine Brines

* Detection limits for samples with high dissolved solids such as marine waters or brines may be elevated by a factor of 10-1000.

Samples must be acidified prior to analysis. Water samples are analyzed by Perkin Elmer Sciex ELAN 9000 ICP-MS, Perkin Elmer Nexion, Thermo icapQ or Agilent 7700. A blank and two water standards are run at the beginning and end of each group of 32 samples. A reagent blank is run at the beginning of the group and every 10th sample is run in duplicate. If instrument suppression occurs, sample(s) affected are re-run at appropriate dilutions until response is normal. Dilution factors will increase by the same factor that samples were diluted.

For analysis of marine waters or brines, detection limits will be correspondingly elevated depending on the dilution necessary to run the water samples.

Code E6 ICP-MS Elements and Detection Limits (µg/L)

ElementDetection LimitUpper Limit
Ag0.25,000
Al2100,000
As0.035000
Ba0.15000
Be0.15000
Bi0.32,000
Ca700200,000
Cd0.015000
Ce0.0015000
Co0.0055000
Cr0.55000
Cs0.0015000
Cu0.25000
Dy0.001100
Er0.001100
Eu0.001100
Fe1050,000
Ga0.012000
Gd0.001100
Ge0.015000
ElementDetection LimitUpper Limit
Hf0.0011000
Hg0.2
Ho0.001100
In0.0015000
K30200,000
La0.0015000
Li15000
Lu0.001100
Mg2200,000
Mn0.15000
Mo0.15000
Na5100,000
Nb0.0055000
Nd0.0015000
Ni0.35000
Pb0.012000
Pr0.0015000
Rb0.0055000
Sb0.015000
Sc15,000
ElementDetection LimitUpper Limit
Se0.25000
Si200200,000
Sm0.001100
Sn0.15000
Sr0.045000
Ta0.0011000
Tb0.0011000
Te0.15,000
Th0.001100
Ti0.15000
Tl0.0015000
Tm0.001100
U0.001100
V0.12000
W0.021000
Y0.0035000
Yb0.001100
Zn0.55000
Zr0.015000

Code E6 ICP-MS Options:

Code E6 Hg (Hg on a separate sample)

ElementDetection Limit ( ng/L )
Hg6

Code E6 B (Boron Add-On)

ElementDetection Limit ( µg/L )
B3

Water samples are analyzed using ICP-OES (Agilent Axial 730-ES) for the 36 element suite.

Code E6 ICP-OES Elements and Detection Limits (µg/L)

ElementDetection Limit
Ag5
Al0.1 mg/L
As30
Ba20
Be2
Bi20
Ca0.1 mg/L
Cd2
Ce30
Co2
Cr20
Cu2
ElementDetection Limit
Fe0.01 mg/L
K0.1 mg/L
Li0.05 mg/L
Mg0.1 mg/L
Mn0.01 mg/L
Mo5
Na0.1 mg/L
Ni5
P0.02 mg/L
Pb10
S1 mg/L
Sb10
ElementDetection Limit
Se20
Si0.1 mg/L
Sn10
Sr10
Te10
Ti10
Tl10
U0.05 mg/L
V10
W10
Y10
Zn5

Ion Chromatography

Un-acidified water samples are analyzed using the DIONEX DX-120 Ion Chromatography System to determine and quantify a group of seven anions. This analysis is applicable to concentrations less than 75 mg/L for Cl, NO2 and NO3; less than 50 mg/L for F; less than 125 mg/L for PO4; less than 250 mg/L for Br and less than 375 mg/L for SO4. Samples exceeding this range (with high total dissolved solids) must be diluted to avoid over-saturation. Measurement uncertainty is evaluated and controlled by an appropriate quality assurance program, including the use of regular laboratory duplicates of samples and verification of the precision/calibration of the instrument through regular runs of various primary dilution standard solutions

AnalyteDetection Limit (mg/L)
Fluoride (F)0.01
Chloride (Cl)0.03
Bromide (Br) 0.03
Nitrite (NO2)0.01
Nitrate (NO3)0.01
Phosphate (PO4)0.02
Sulphate (SO4)0.03

Note:

Contact laboratory for specific Detection Limit capabilities. Drinking Water samples cannot be analyzed.

Reference:

EPA Method 300.0

Organic Water / Wastewater Analysis

AnalysisMethod Instrumentation
Phenols / Total Phenols (4AAP) SKALAR Autoanalyzer (4AAP)
AtrazineGC-MS
Bisphenol (A) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)GC-MS
BTEX (Benzene / Toluene / Ethyl Benzyne / Xylenes) GC-MS
FAME (Fatty Acids) GC-MS
Glycols (Polyethylene and Polypropylene)GC-MS
Geosmin and Methyl-Isoborneal (MIB)GC-MS
Phthalates and Adipate GC-MS
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB - Total Arochlors)GC-MS
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB - Cogener Specific)GC-MS
Polybromated Biphenyls and Polybromated Diphenyl Ethers (PPB and PBDE)GC-MS
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH/PNA - 16 compounds)GC-MS
Sulfur (Elemental)GC-MS
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (VOH - C5-C10)GC-MS
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH - Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Range - C10-C44)GC-MS
Trihalomethanes (THM)GC-MS
Volatile Organic Contaminants (VOC)GC-MS

Note:

Contact laboratory for a list of specific compounds and their Detection Limit capabilities.

Drinking water samples cannot be analysed. TPH not compliant to CCME guidelines.

Miscellaneous Water Analysis

pHCyanide (Total CN)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)Cyanide (Free CN)
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)Cyanide (Weak Acid Dissociable - WAD CN)
ConductivityTotal Organic Carbon (TOC)
Salinity Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Acidity Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)             
TurbidityDissolved Oxygen (DO)
Oil and Grease (Total)Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)
Oil and Grease (Mineral)Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH-GRO/DRO) -  C6-C10/C10-C28 for Gasoline/Diesel Range
Oil and Grease (Vegetable)Alkalinity (CaCO3) [includes carbonate (CO3) & bicarbonate (HCO3)]
Reactive SilicaBTEX (Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene Xylene)
Total PhosphorousM icrobiology (E.coli, Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, Heterotrophic Plate Count)
NH3 + NH4 (must provide pH or also do Code E6 pH)Perchlorate  (EPA 331.0) 
Colour  Hardness (must also do Code E6 ICP-OES)                              

Metal Speciation in Water

Our research activities over the last few years have allowed us to link the capillary electrophoresis and HPLC techniques to conventional ICP-MS or High Resolution ICP-MS. Using as little as 5 µg/L of solution, we can conveniently speciate a number of metals for their inorganic or organic metal species. This allows determination of a number of metal species sequentially. Actlabs can consult on the best ways to preserve samples for speciation analysis.

Pore Water Extraction (from sediment core)
As speciation (As3+, As5+, MMA, DMA)
Sn speciation (Tripropylpentyl; Tributylpentyl; Dibutyldipentyl; Monobutyl,tripentyl; Monophenyl,tripentyl; Diphenyl,tripentyl; Triphenyl,tripentyl)
Fe Speciation (Fe3+, Fe2+)
Se Speciation (Se6+, Se4+, Se-Methionine, Se-Cystine)
Cr Speciation (Cr3+, Cr6+)

Code E6C Analysis and Reporting Limits

AnalysisMethodReferenceReporting Limit
AcidityISEStandard Methods- For the Examination of Water and Wastewater10 mg/L CaCO3
Alkalinity (CaCO3)
Includes: Carbonate (CO32)
Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
TitrimetryAOAC 11.1.052 mg/L CaCO3
NH3 + NH4ISESM 4500-ammonia0.02 mg/L NH3
0.01 mg/L NH4
Bi214Detector0.1 Bq/L
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)DOMSM 5210-Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)2 mg/L
BTEXOrganics
Cyanide (SAD CN)Analyzer0.15 ppb
Cyanide
(Weak Acid Dissociable - WAD CN)
SKALAR automated analyzer0.8 ppb
Cyanide (Free CN)SKALAR automated analyzer0.8 ppb
Cyanide (Total CN)SKALAR automated analyzer0.8 ppb
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)SPStandard Range micro-COD vial method a suitable alternate procedure to EPA 410.111 mg/L
ColourColour1 – 500
ConductivityISE0.01 µS
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)Analyzer0.01 mg/L
DOCAnalyzer0.01 mg/L
H2STITR0.1 mg/L
HardnessICP/OESmg/L CaCO3
Microbiology
(E.coli, Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, Heterotrophic Plate Count)
MF> 0
Oil & Grease (Total)GRAVmg/L
PICP/OES> 0.02 mg/L
Pb210Detector0.01 Bq/L
Pb214Detector0.1 Bq/L
pHpHEPA 150.1> 0.1 pH units
Ra226Detector0.005 Bq/L
SalinitySAL> 2.00 g/L
SilicaSP1 mg/L
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)ISEASTM0.01 mg/L
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)GravimetricStandard methods for the examination of Water and Wastewater2.5 mg/L
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)GravimetricEPA 160.24 mg/L
Total Volatile Solids (TVS)Gravimetric4 mg/L
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)Analyzer0.03 – 25 mg/L
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)Analyzer0.01 mg/L
Total PhenolAnalyzer0.15 ppb
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH)
(gas/diesel)
Organics
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH)
(heavy oil)
Organics
TurbidityTurbidimetric0.1 – 10,000 NTU
Water DensityGRAVg/ml