Water Research Testing Facility at Penn State
The Water Quality Laboratory at Penn State provides water analysis supporting research in a broad range of environmental water quality fields including surface water, groundwater, stream water, and well water. The lab is equipped with a full range of analytical instruments used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of water and various environmental matrices.
The Water Quality Laboratory is equipped with a full range of analytical instruments used for specific water analyses, such as:
- pH
- Acidity
- Alkalinity
- Anions
- Cations
- Mercury
- Stable Isotopes
- Various forms of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus
The lab is equipped with sample preparation laboratory space for sample digestions, extractions, filtration of inorganic and organic analytes from water samples, as well as a wide range of analytical instruments. The Water Quality Laboratory is supported by subject matter experts who are available to assist with experimental design, sample collection, analysis, and data interpretation.
Work with Us
The Water Quality Lab is available to assist both Penn State researchers and external clients from industry, government, and other universities.
Standards
To ensure the highest quality of data, Penn State's Water Quality Laboratory follows the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 23rd Edition.
All analyses are performed following quality assurance and quality control guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Quality control data are provided to our lab users, along with detailed results for your water samples.
Capabilities
Ion Chromatograph
The Dionex ICS-3000 Integrion HP Ion Chromatograph (HPIC) is equipped with an automated eluent generator. The HPIC measures concentrations of anions and cations.
Mercury Analyzer
The Milestone DMA-80 Direct Mercury Analyzer measures mercury concentrations in liquid and solid samples.
Automated Wet Chemistry Analyzer
The Seal AQ2 measures concentrations of ammonia-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen, phosphate-P, and total phosphorus and silica.
Stable Isotopes Water Analyzer
The Picarro L2130-I Analyzer measures stable isotopes (18O and 2H) in water.
Total Organic Carbon Analyzer
The Shimadzu TOC-VCPH measures total organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, total inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total dissolved nitrogen.
Water Quality Laboratory in Action
Research collaborations with the Water Quality Laboratory
Vegetation and Water Quality
A research team was sampling two multifunctional buffer sites to understand how different perennial vegetation could improve water quality. The Water Quality Lab provided support for analyzing the water samples for anions, total and ortho P, and total suspended sediment.
Analyzing Algae Accelerators
Researchers used the Water Quality Lab to determine the nitrogen levels in surface and subsurface soils on headwater floodplain wetlands in order to help understand downstream water quality.
Elemental Sulfur Investigation
In a study where researchers investigated how elemental sulfur particles formed in cultures of bacteria, the Water Quality Lab supported the project by analyzing the total organic carbon of materials.
Water Quality Lab Staff
Address
Water Quality Laboratory
Land and Water Research Building
100 Hastings Road
University Park, PA 16802