Analytical methods
The following procedures and analytical work are carried-out regularly:
On spectrometric methods
- Spectroscopic measurements in VNIR, SWIR and Thermal infrared range on solid material samples by five field spectrometers (ASD, GER 3700, PIMA II, MIDAC) or the Bruker FTIR laboratory instrument.
- A number of special cameras and instruments for measurements on vegetation in the field are available such as Li-COR 2000 Leaf Area Index meter, Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter, NEC Thermal Tracer Camera, etc. For a full list and details and reservation of equipment see https://helpdesk.itc.nl/tas/public/index.jsp
On water samples
- Anion concentration determination by Hach spectrophotometer or titration, Cl-, NO3-, NO2-, SO42-, PO42-, F-
- Cation concentration determination by Varian ICP-OES or PerkinElmer Flame AAS, major elements Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, minor elements Fe3+, Mn2+, Sr2+, Si4+ and trace elements such as Li1+
- EC and pH measurement
- Bicarbonate by Merck field titration
- Chlorophyll determination by field spectrometer
- Total dissolved solids and suspended solids
- Turbidity by field spectrometer
- Dissolved oxygen by laser-probe field instrument
On soil samples
- Drying, crushing, milling, splitting
- Sieving & weighing for coarse particle size analysis
- Particle size analysis, sand, silt clay fraction (More information)
- Saturated hydraulic conductivity
- Bulk density, soil moisture
- Total Carbon content
- Methyl- blue determination for swelling clays
- Atterberg limits determination with Casagrande tool for soil plasticity
On soils, sediment and rocks
- Crushing, milling, sieving and splitting
- Loss on ignition up to 1000o Celcius
- Determination rock density
- After acid decomposition or other extraction; trace element analysis by ICP-OES or Flame AAS
- Mineral separation by Frantz Magnetic Separator or heavy liquids
- Microscopic observations and UV-light reflection testing
- Infrared mineral determination with PIMA-II of ITC’s RSG lab.
On vegetation and organic material
- Determination of moisture content
- Drying and pulverizing
- Ashing at 450oC, total Loss on ignition at 950oC
- Acid decomposition of ash residue for trace element analysis
- Leaf area index measurement by Li-Cor
- Leaf Chlorophyll content measurement by SPAD
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| Determining hydraulic conductivity of undisturbed soil samples | Measurement of water extractable soil pH and EC at a 1:2 soil:water ratio |
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| Particle size analysis on soils to determine the clay, silt and sand percentages using Stocke’s precipitation law | WREM students on water sampling during along a stream behind UT-Campus |