ACTFR Laboratory Services Unit
The ACTFR Laboratory Services Unit (formerly known as the ACTFR Water Quality Laboratory) was established in 1988 to service the water quality assessment requirements of research and consulting projects. The laboratory also provides a commercial analytical service to government agencies and industry. The laboratory's focus is on the analysis of waters and wastewaters and related samples such as sediments and biological tissues. The ACTFR works in collaboration with the James Cook University's Advanced Analytical Centre to provide access to a wide range of state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and techniques.
About ACTFR Analytical Testing Services
Specific capabilities and expertise include:
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design and implementation of monitoring program
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sampling of water, sediment and biota
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analysis of waters, wastewaters, sediments and biological tissue samples
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in-situ monitoring and data logging
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interpretation of analytical results and statistical analysis of water quality data
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recommendations for water quality management
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hydrological and hydrogeological evaluations
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ambient water quality assessments
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impact assessments
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discharge licence compliance monitoring
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water and wastewater treatment efficiency testing
Equipment and resources
The ACTFR Laboratory Services Unit is well equipped to cater for both routine analytical needs and specialist research requirements. The facility includes conventional laboratory equipment for standard titrimetric, colorimetric and gravimetric analysis techniques, supported by a range of high quality modern instrumentation which enhances the efficiency of routine analyses and provides sophisticated state-of-the-art investigation capabilities.
The ACTFR also has access to a large number of freezers and refrigerated storage facilities which allows for proper storage of large numbers of samples. Laboratory facilities are complemented by an extensive array of field equipment including portable analysis and in-situ data logging instrumentation, specialist sampling devices, GPS units, 4WD vehicles, boats, etc.
Specific examples of equipment available to the ACTFR include:
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A three channel ALPKEM Flow Solution auto-analyser;
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Fully automated Shimadzu Total Organic Carbon analyser (waters);
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Shimadzu UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
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Varian Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
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Varian inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS);
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A fully equipped microbiological laboratory;
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Laser sediment particle sizer;
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X-Ray diffraction spectrometer and X-Ray florescence spectrometer;
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Scanning and transmission electron microscopes with electron microprobes for spectral analysis;
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Field instruments for manual surveys and/or in-situ logging of physico-chemical parameters including instruments from Hydrolab, YSI, Perstorp Analytical, Orion, TPS and Metrohm; and
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A variety of sampling pumps (surface and groundwater) and grab samplers for water and sediment.
Laboratory staff have extensive experience in all facets of water quality investigation and undertake projects dealing with freshwater streams, rivers, wetlands and reservoirs, marine waters, groundwaters and wastewaters. ACTFR staff have established working links with many associates within the University and draw on the experience of specialists from many disciplines. This provides the capability to address the diversity of water quality issues and when necessary, adopt a holistic approach to water quality evaluation.
