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UD Core Laboratory for Soil, Plant and Water Analysis

A collage of computers and lab equipment.

UD Core Laboratory for Soil, Plant and Water Analysis


Located on the first floor of the newly renovated Worrilow Hall, the UD Core Laboratory for Soil, Plant and Water Analysis boasts a comprehensive array of analytical instrumentation for researchers across campus to obtain high-quality data for their research needs. Please reference the current fee schedule document and contact Karen Gartely (kgartley@udel.edu) for more information.

A large, grey and white Elementar Vario MAX Cube sitting in a lab.

Elementar Vario MAX Cube

  • Combustion analysis of total C and N in solid samples (e.g., soils, plants, other solids/semisolids)

  • Dry sample weight for soil: 1 g soil is ideal, minimum 0.250 g

  • Dry sample weight for plant: 0.25 g plant is ideal, minimum 0.1 g

A medium-sized blue Elementar TOC Analyzer next to a computer in a lab.

Elementar TOC Analyzer

  • Combustion analysis of POC, TC, TIC, TNb, TOC in liquid samples

  • Minimum sample volume required: 6 mL

Three medium-sized machines that make up the Auto Analyzer sitting in a lab.

Auto Analyzer 

  • Flow-through colorimetric analysis of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium

  • 4 mL liquid per sample

A small machine with shield flipped open to show the inside: the AQ2 Discrete Analyzer.

AQ2 Discrete Analyzer

  • Automated colorimetric analysis of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium

  • Up to 100 samples at a time

The Thermo iCAP PRO ICP-OES: a massive (person-height) machine with a blue-framed opening next to a computer.

Thermo iCAP PRO ICP-OES

  • Elemental analysis of liquid samples (waters, digested solids)

  • 10 mL sample volume is ideal; minimum of 2 mL required

  • Lower detection limit than iCAP 7000

A much smaller counterpart to the Thermo iCAP ICP-OES, the Thermo iCAP 7000 Series ICP-OES is a medium-sized white machine that sits on a tabletop.

Thermo iCAP 7000 Series ICP-OES

  • High-throughput elemental analysis of liquid samples (waters, digested solids)

  • Minimum sample requirement: 6 mL

The EASY Prep Soil Analyzer is smaller machine set up with test holders.

EASY Prep Soil Analyzer

  • High-throughput soil pH analysis

A small tabletop machine with a door on the front and small display atop it.

MARS 6 CEM

  • Digestion of solids (e.g., plants, soils, other tissues) for subsequent ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis

A quite large, older piece of tabletop equipment with sheild open so test samples can be places inside.

Autoblock ENV Express

  • Automatic digestion of solids (e.g., plants, soils, other tissues) for subsequent ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Institution and Provider. Visit UD’s Office of Equity & Inclusion to learn more.

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531 South College Avenue Newark, DE 19716 (302) 831-2501