Alpha Analytical Laboratories services

Generating useful, reliable analytical data for risk assessments, particularly ones involving sediment and/or tissue sampling programs, is the most difficult task an environmental laboratory can undertake. Contaminated sediments can present a significant challenge to achieving project-specific detection limits, given the high TOC and moisture content. This can be further exacerbated by high concentrations of both target and non-target analytes. Tissue samples pose similar, but different, challenges associated with high lipid content.

Legacies of the `gaslight era`, former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites can have a unique chemical contamination signature and, as they were often located along waterways in urban areas, can present a significant challenge to remediation. Alpha Analytical has considerable qualifications and experience working on site characterization and remediation projects, where former manufactured gas plant (MGP) operations are suspected of being the primary source of contamination. Alpha has a wide array of capabilities typically required to support this project application.

Traditionally, most PCB analysis has been performed by either of two approaches - aroclor analysis utilizing gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) or congener/homolog analysis utilizing high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS). While each approach has its advantages and disadvantages, there is a very wide gap between these techniques in terms of the type, depth, breadth, and quality of information that each procedure provides. Alpha offers both aroclor and congener/homolog analysis; however, we utilize a gas chromatography/low resolution mass spectrometry (GC/LRMS) approach for PCB congeners and homologs that may be a very cost effective option for some project applications.

Alpha Analytical has considerable experience with the analysis of hydrocarbons in general and PAHs in particular. We have supported some of the largest, most demanding and highest profile hydrocarbon investigations in the world. Alpha offers a unique combination of the highest quality analytical capabiliities, as well as the capacity to process the large numbers of samples these types of projects typically generate both efficiently and in accordance with challenging timeframes. Alpha`s PAH analyses range from the typical parent PAH compounds listed in the EPA Priority Pollutant list to PAH target compounds lists that also include their respective alkyl-substituted homologs.