Sediment and Ecological Projects

Lancaster Laboratories has the ability to perform a wide range of analyses on soil, sediment, surface water and tissue matrices. We’ve gained extensive experience in handling the unique situations presented by these types of samples. We can customize our processes to meet your reporting needs.

Why Choose Lancaster Laboratories?

• In addition to our sediment and ecological expertise, we offer a full scope of testing services to meet all your project needs.
• We customize our processes to meet your reporting needs.

Leadership of Group:

Soil and Surface Water

Remedial investigations are supported at Lancaster Labs through a number of different methods. We routinely run GC/MS Volatiles by SW-846 8260B using methanol (high-level) or sodium bisulfate (low-level) preservation using EnCore soil samplers. We have extensive experience in hydrocarbon analyses, testing for PAHs by SW-846 8270C and other statespecific methods such as MA VPH/EPH.

Selective Ion Monitoring (SIM) is employed to meet lower action levels for PAH compounds. By monitoring a single ion within a specific retention time window, we are able to detect a lower mass of the target analyte. The ability to use SIM on these ecological matrices is based on the cleanups that we are able to do (GPC, in particular). Several cleanup techniques are utilized to remove matrix interferences that affect the reporting limits. The cleanups allow us to better differentiate the target ions from the matrix.

PCBs/Aroclors are identified by running SW-846 8082. Our recent MDL studies have shown we can meet most risk-based goals.

Soil samples to be analyzed for metals are prepared in accordance with SW-846 3050B acid digestion (a technique that allows the sample to dissolve completely and works very well) or SW-846 3052 microwave-assisted acid digestion. Water samples are digested using SW-846 3005A. Interferences found in brackish estuaries, such as the presence of chloride, sodium and TDS affect turnaround time and recoveries.

Contaminated Sediment

Compounds present in sediment may begin to affect benthic organisms at concentrations often lower than conventional analytical methods can quantify. Sediments frequently have a high moisture content (or low percent solids content), which ultimately affect the ability to achieve the low reporting limits required for ecological risk characterization. To remove the water portion from these samples, freeze-drying is a technique that is available. Although time consuming, water content can be reduced by greater than 50 percent.

Elutriate evaluation is commonly requested when river dredging is performed. This procedure helps consultants/scientists determine how much of the river bottom contamination is transported into the river water during dredging activities. Lancaster Laboratories works closely with clients to design customized elutriate sampling plans.

Also in support of sediment-sampling programs, Lancaster Labs is accustomed to using Acid Volatile Sulfides/Simultaneously Extracted Metals (AVS/ SEM). Typical metals requested are Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Nickel and Zinc.

Additionally, grain size or particle size is run by hydrometer in accordance with ASTM D-422. We also offer Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Method SW-846 9060 or Standard Method 5310B modified (Lloyd Kahn) to meet your specific QAPP requirements.

Tissue Extraction and Analysis

Of particular interest are the levels of PCBs, PAHs and various metals in worms, fish and shellfish (edible portion).

In order to address the issue of pre-extraction preparation, Lancaster Labs has elected to follow Great Lakes Environmental Assessment Section Procedure #31, “Fish Collection Procedure,” for the preparation of fish tissue. Of primary importance is that the submitter defines the portion of the sample for preparation (edible portion or entire animal). Adequate sample size is especially significant to achieve desired detection limits.

Several homogenization procedures are used to prepare the sample for extraction. These include grinding and blending with food-grade dry ice. The sample is then allowed to sublime for at least 12 hours or until the CO₂ has vaporized (18 to 24 hours maximum). We keep the samples frozen during the preparation phase to maintain consistent sample integrity and to prevent layering of the sample. The sample is now ready for extraction of the analytes of interest.

Samples for determination of organics are processed by SW-846 methodology. Since the fat content of some organisms may interfere with organic analyses, Lancaster Labs offers multiple cleanup techniques, including florisil, silica gel, sulfuric acid and gel permeation chromatography. These successfully remove the fats and excess organic components from the samples prior to injection on the instruments. Metals samples are prepared as noted previously. Various extraction techniques are available for sample preparation. Sonication and soxhlet are the most common. Soxhlet extraction for organic compounds allows the sample to reflux over time and thus remain in contact with the solvent longer. This procedure results in less particulate matter to filter and leads to more reproducible data than the sonication procedure. Sonication utilizes ultrasonic sound waves and the production of microbubbles when the waves impact the sample to release the organic compounds of interest into a liquid solvent environment. While either extraction method can be utilized, the sonication procedure will provide a quicker turnaround time for data generation. Clients should choose and communicate to the laboratory an extraction method prior to sample submittal.

To adapt the analyses to the organism of interest and therefore provide higher quality data, Lancaster Labs employs a performance-based measurement system (PBMS) approach to method development. Therefore, the analysis is customized to optimize the extraction and analytical procedures.

Lancaster Labs offers lipids analysis to provide clients with all the analytical data necessary to perform food-chain modeling. We use an automated approach utilizing Automated Solvent Extraction (ASE) by SW-846 3545 followed by a gravimetric determination to quantify the fat content. We’ve found this procedure to generate more accurate and reproducible results than the AOAC method, which uses an acid hydrolysis technique before the gravimetric fat determination.

Contact Us

Click here to request information or a receive a quote. To discuss your testing needs with a Business Development Specialist, please call 717-656-2300.