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OUR SERVICES

Specialising in the preparation and elemental analysis of soil, crop and environmental samples, our state-of-the-art facilities provide a specialist agricultural analysis service for researchers at Rothamsted Research, collaborators, tenants and external clients.

Following a £730,000 refurbishment in 2021, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Analytical Chemistry Unit offers flagship laboratories, providing chemical services in support of strategic agricultural science.

Between 2018 and 2023, the Analytical Chemistry Facility at Harpenden was awarded a further £1 million of investment from BBSRC for the acquisition of world leading, hi-tech instrumentation.

Our facilities include preparation labs designed for sample weighing, acid digestion and a wide range of extraction procedures. With a range of specialist laboratories equipped with the most advanced instrumentation available, we provide high level performance in terms of speed, accuracy, precision, and reliability. Analysis services include major and trace element determination by : Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and : Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), total nitrogen/carbon, inorganic carbon, total organic carbon (TOC) and anion analysis by colourimetric continuous flow.

All procedures are primarily aimed at researchers or clients looking for a high-quality service, where precision and accuracy is essential. All samples are weighed not scooped and are performed by a team of highly skilled, experienced analysts.

All procedures adhere to strict Quality Assurance (QA) protocols; the facility follows the Joint Code of Practice (JCoPR) and participates in the WEPAL International Soil Exchange (ISE) and International Plant Exchange (IPE) programmes.

EXTRACTION AND DIGESTION SERVICES

Procedure

Determination

Sample

Nitric/perchloric digestion

Total cations: major + trace elements

Crop (milled)

Aqua regia digestion

Total cations: major + trace elements

Soil (milled)

Microwave digestion

Boron, ICP-MS analysis

Crop (milled)

Ammonium nitrate extraction

Exchangeable cations: available K Ca Mg Na

Soil (2mm)

Sodium bicarbonate extraction

Available P (Olsen P)

Soil (2mm)

Mehlich III extraction

Plant available: major + trace elements

Soil (2mm)

Potassium chloride extraction

Available nitrate and ammonium

Soil (fresh)

Cold water extraction

Nitrate and chloride

Crop (milled)

SAMPLE ANALYSIS SERVICES

Instrumental Procedure

Determination

Sample

ICP-OES

Major + trace elements: (>50ppb in solution) Al B Ca Cd Co Cr Cu Fe K Mg Mn Mo Na Ni P Pb S Ti Zn

Water + crop/soil extracts + digests

ICP-MS

Trace elements: (<50ppb in solution)

As Cd Co Cr Cu Mn Mo Ni Pb Se Ti Zn

Water + crop/soil extracts + digests

Skalar San>++ anion colourimetric continuous flow analysis

Available NO3-N NH4-N NO2-N PO4-P Cl

+ Total soluble nitrogen (UV oxidation)

Water + soil/crop/FYM extracts + digests

Leco Dumas combustion analysis

Total nitrogen and carbon

Crop/soil (milled)

Skalar Primacs acid addition inorganic carbon analysis

Inorganic carbon

Soil (milled)

Total organic carbon UV oxidation

TOC (as NPOC)

Water + soil extracts

pH and EC

pH in water, pH + EC

Soil (2mm)

Dry matter (oven)

Dry matter weights

Soil

Loss on ignition (muffle furnace)

Loss on ignition

Soil

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY UNIT (HARPENDEN) TEAM

Wendy Wilmer

Wendy Wilmer

Senior Scientific Specialist Head of Analytical Chemistry

Ruth Skilton

Ruth Skilton

Scientific Specialist - Analytical chemistry

Dr Mark Durenkamp

Dr Mark Durenkamp

Scientific Specialist - Analytical chemistry

Melanie Brookman

Melanie Brookman

Scientific technician - Analytical Chemistry

Chloe Garwood

Chloe Garwood

Scientific technician - Analytical Chemistry

CONTACT THE ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY UNIT


Analytical Chemistry Unit (Harpenden Laboratory)   
Rothamsted Research
Harpenden
Herts
AL5 2JQ

Tel: +44 (0) 1582 938648
Email: analytical.chemistry.h@rothamsted.ac.uk