Hydrogeology Research Laboratory
This lab is located in the new Science and Engineering Research building and is used primarily for experimental studies of fate and transport of contaminants in soil or sand columns, as well as for some chemical analyses. The lab is equipped with a Perkin Elmer LS55 luminescence spectrophotometer for dye tracer analysis and a Hach spectrophotometer for general water quality analyses. Contaminant analyses are run on the 7th floor of the SE building in a state-of-the-art chemical analytical laboratory managed by the Center for Environmental Biotechnology. CEB facilities include several GC/MS systems, as well as LCMS, solvent digesters, organic carbon analyzer and everything needed to analyze soil or water samples for a wide range of contaminants. Hydro-environmental researchers have recently carried out field or laboratory investigations involving a range of contaminant types, including TCE, PCE, DCE, TNT, DNT, all 16 EPA priority PAHs and others. Hydro-environmental students also frequently use the CEB microbiology labs, which are well-equipped for analysis of molecular DNA and RNA using gene sequencing and Real Time–PCR systems. These have been used recently for studies of persistence of host-specific fecal Bacteroides in streams and groundwater, as well as studies of microbial communities in contaminated soil and water.