Advanced analytical instrumentation for identifying and quantifying chemical pollutants in environmental samples is housed in this laboratory. Extracted and processed environmental samples are analyzed and measured here for a variety of volatile and non-volatile chemicals. More...
Inadvertent contamination of environmental samples during laboratory processing can be a significant problem. The Clean Room labs, shared by the City of Tacoma and University of Washington Tacoma, are used to test for very low levels of metal and organic pollution. The labs were carefully designed with extra ventilation and air filtration to ensure that contaminants often present in the air do not enter the labs and contaminate the samples. More...
In the Metals Prep/Analysis lab, scientists analyze water, wastewater, soil, sediment and sludge for metals. More...
Inadvertent contamination of environmental samples during laboratory processing can be a significant problem. The Clean Room labs, shared by the City of Tacoma and University of Washington Tacoma, are used to test for very low levels of metal and organic pollution. The labs were carefully designed with extra ventilation and air filtration to ensure that contaminants often present in the air do not enter the labs and contaminate the samples. More...
Technicians in the Glass Wash/Reagent Preparation section perform support services that aid scientists with the work being conducted at the Center for Urban Waters. In this area, glassware and sample containers are rigorously cleaned to ensure removal of all contaminants. More...
Main Lab
Room 323
In the University of Washington Tacoma's Environmental Chemistry labs, air, water, sediment, biota and other environmental samples are processed in preparation for chemical analyses. Pollutants are extracted from each type of sample and the resulting solutions are further purified prior to analysis. Air entering this laboratory is filtered to ensure the clean conditions required to process samples and fume hoods provide a safe working environment.
In this lab:
- Equipment used for chemical extraction and evaporation include an Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE®) and a TurboVap® evaporator system.
- Analytical balances and a chemical refrigerator/freezer are used for the preparation and storage of chemical standards.
- Several fume hoods provide for safe handling of volatile chemicals.
