Services

Mission

TAF is designed to facilitate the development of trace and ultra-trace methods of chemical analysis for a wide range of “real life” environmental sample matrices from air, water, soil, vegetation, biological tissues/fluids and industrial processes.  The facility utilizes the integration of new and novel instrumental approaches into the development and advancement of existing analytical approaches for fully automated, low-cost, high sample throughput methods.  During its first year of operation, 2006, organic analysis advancements in TAF will focus on active ingredients in pesticide formulations and their breakdown or metabolite products, and selected drug analysis as requested from contracts or large volume users. 

General Terms and Conditions

• Prices quoted are for routine analysis of environmental samples in Canadian dollars – PRICES ARE SHOWN FOR SINGLE SAMPLE ANALYSIS.  Prices are effective for 2006 and are subject to change without notice – this is expected to be result of increase in costs of consumable or operation (eg. gas, instrument part prices, etc.).
• Special priority “Rush” analyses are subject to additional charges.
• Payment of services for external customers shall be within 30 days of receipt of invoice.
• Payment for University of Regina costumers is by end of month invoiced.
• Package pricing is based upon volume or contracts available by prior arrangement with the Director of TAF.
• Minimum charges apply for single sample analysis.
• Additional charges are applied for sample preparation or clean-up prior to chemical analysis.
• All client information and results are confidential.  University of Regina customers must acknowledge TAF in publications for chemical analysis.

Cleanroom Entry Costs

All individuals entering the cleanroom must comply with cleanroom procedures and be approved by the Director of TAF prior to entry.  A $20 cleanroom outfit cost will be applied.

Sample Preparation Techniques Available For Environmental Samples

• PRESSURIZED SOLVENT EXTRACTION (Accelerated Solvent Extraction - ASE100 AND ASE 300 DIONEX Systems):   $10
• MICROWAVE ACID DIGESTION/EXTRACTION for acid digestion or organic extraction (ETHOS SEL MICROWAVE LABSTATION):  $10
• SOLID PHASE EXTRACTION (SPE) for pre-concentration or clean-up:   $10
• SAMPLE HNO₃ ACID DIGESTION OR FILTRATION:   $5-10 (depending on conditions of sample)
• GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS with analytical or microbalance depending upon needs:   $10
• Other preparation methods for soils, etc available on request for prearranged pricing.

Chemical Analysis

Please note:  Sample preparation charges apply if sample is not in suitable form for chemical analysis.

ELEMENTAL

• Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS) for trace metal analysis – minimum charge of $50-$100 for single sample depending upon number of elements requested.

ORGANICS

• Gas Chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (Agilent) or GC with tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) (Waters-Micromass Quattro Micro) for identification or quantitative analysis.  Both GC systems have electron impact (EI) or chemical ionization (CI) available.  Other selective detectors available for confirmation include electron capture detector (ECD), nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD), and flame photometric detector (FPD).  Injectors include standard split/splitless inlet, cold on-column, and programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV) with a thermal desorption probe for dirty matrices.
  • Packages available for organochlorine, extended organochlorine list, organophosphorus analysis, related compounds (triallate, trifluralin, ethalfluralin), pyrethroids, and selected fungicides (e.g. captan, captafol, dicofol, folpet).
  • Method development available for any pesticide of interest.  Price of standards must be included for new methods.
  • Minimum charge of $100 for single sample analysis of selected pesticides will be applied in addition to sample preparation needs.

• Liquid chromatography (LC) with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) –ion sources available include electrospray (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI).  Waters-Micromass Quattro Premier LC/MS/MS system.
  • Packages available for acid herbicides (e.g. 2,4-D, dicamba, mecoprop, dicamba, etc.), carbamates, organophosphorus pesticides and metabolites or degradation products.
  • Method development or other methods available for other pesticides, metabolites or pharmaceuticals of interest.  Price of standards must be included for new methods.
  • Minimum charge of $100 for single sample pesticide analysis of selected pesticides will be applied excluding sample preparation needs.