Hydrochemistry

AWI - Alfred Wegener Institute

last updated: July 19, 2023

About the Laboratory

Hydrochemistry

AWI - Alfred Wegener Institute

@ Geosciences / Permafrost Research

This Laboratory is part of:

Permafrost Research Laboratories laboratory complex
Networks: Geo.X

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Description

The hydrochemistry lab at AWI provides wet chemistry analyses of surface and ground waters, snow, ice and permafrost pore water samples. We have optimized the workflow for thawing samples and extracting pore water sediment from sediments and soils for further analysis. We analyze concentrations of major dissolved species in cationic, anionic and total dissolved form, and perform analyses of organic carbon. Standard parameters, such as pH, alkalinity and electrical conductivity of samples are also measured.

Instruments

ION CHROMATOGRAPHS are recorders that are used in chromatography; a form of high pressure liquid chromatography using conductivity detectors where a combination of weak ionic solvents are used to separate anions and cations of a solution, with the contribution of the solvent to conductivity suppressed just prior to detection; measures anions such as sulfate, nitrate, and chloride in hydrometers. (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
IC - Ion Chromatograph
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis is a well-defined and commonly used methodology that measures the carbon content of dissolved and particulate organic matter present in water. Many water utilities monitor TOC to determine raw water quality or to evaluate the effectiveness of processes designed to remove organic carbon. Some wastewater utilities also employ TOC analysis to monitor the efficiency of the treatment process. In addition to these uses for TOC monitoring, measuring changes in TOC concentrations can be an effective "surrogate" for detecting contamination from organic compounds (e.g. petrochemicals, solvents, pesticides). Thus, while TOC analysis does not give specific information about the nature of the threat, identifying changes in TOC can be a good indicator of potential threats to a system. Additional information available at "http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security/guide/ chemicalsensortotalorganiccarbonanalyzer.html" [Summary provided by the EPA] (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
TOC - Total Organic Carbon Analyzer
Measurement method of atomic spectroscopy that uses an inductively-coupled plasma to excite and ionize atoms with measurement of the number and kind of ions in the plasma from their emission of electromagnetic radiation. (Source: IUPAC; https://iupac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PAC-REC-19-02-03.R2_PR191002MC.pdf) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
ICP-AES - Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer
ICP-OES, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer

Analytical Methods

ION CHROMATOGRAPHS are recorders that are used in chromatography; a form of high pressure liquid chromatography using conductivity detectors where a combination of weak ionic solvents are used to separate anions and cations of a solution, with the contribution of the solvent to conductivity suppressed just prior to detection; measures anions such as sulfate, nitrate, and chloride in hydrometers.
Chromatography in which separation is based mainly on differences in the ion-exchange affinities of the sample components. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2017-0111) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
IC - Ion Chromatography
Ion Exchange Chromatography
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis is a well-defined and commonly used methodology that measures the carbon content of dissolved and particulate organic matter present in water. Many water utilities monitor TOC to determine raw water quality or to evaluate the effectiveness of processes designed to remove organic carbon. Some wastewater utilities also employ TOC analysis to monitor the efficiency of the treatment process. In addition to these uses for TOC monitoring, measuring changes in TOC concentrations can be an effective "surrogate" for detecting contamination from organic compounds (e.g. petrochemicals, solvents, pesticides). Thus, while TOC analysis does not give specific information about the nature of the threat, identifying changes in TOC can be a good indicator of potential threats to a system. Additional information available at "http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security/guide/ chemicalsensortotalorganiccarbonanalyzer.html" [Summary provided by the EPA]
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis is a well-defined and commonly used methodology that measures the carbon content of dissolved and particulate organic matter present in water. Many water utilities monitor TOC to determine raw water quality or to evaluate the effectiveness of processes designed to remove organic carbon. Some wastewater utilities also employ TOC analysis to monitor the efficiency of the treatment process. In addition to these uses for TOC monitoring, measuring changes in TOC concentrations can be an effective "surrogate" for detecting contamination from organic compounds (e.g. petrochemicals, solvents, pesticides). Thus, while TOC analysis does not give specific information about the nature of the threat, identifying changes in TOC can be a good indicator of potential threats to a system. Additional information available at "http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security/guide/ chemicalsensortotalorganiccarbonanalyzer.html" [Summary provided by the EPA] (Source: NASA; UUID: 58ac7544-7271-4957-a70a-ea7c1a1ae094) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
TOC - Total Organic Carbon Analysis
Total Organic Carbon
Sensors that measure the electrical conductance per unit distance in an electrolytic or aqueous solution.
Sensors that measure the electrical conductance per unit distance in an electrolytic or aqueous solution. (Source: NASA; UUID: b5d7c2cb-60c4-4dfe-bdc9-31e9fcc97dd0)
Electrical Conductivity Measurement
Potentiometric electrochemical sensor that measures pH as a linear function of electrode potential. Measurement principles or methods include the use of an ion-selective electrode (see glass pH-sensitive electrode), ion-selective field effect transistor, metal-metal oxide electrodes, or redox electrode (e.g. hydrogen electrode, quinhydrone electrode). (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2018-0109)
pH Measurement
Measurement method of atomic spectroscopy that uses an inductively-coupled plasma to excite and ionize atoms with measurement of the number and kind of ions in the plasma from their emission of electromagnetic radiation. (Source: IUPAC; https://iupac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PAC-REC-19-02-03.R2_PR191002MC.pdf) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
ICP-AES - Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
ICP-OES, Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy

Laboratory Keywords

In addition to the instruments and analytical methods listed above, these keywords help to describe the work done in the laboratory. This may include the type of samples, standard materials, specific preparative or analytical methods and specific instrument characteristics.

Alkalinity
Dissolved Carbon (DC)
Total Carbon (TC)
Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC)
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

Disciplines

Geoscience > Hydrology > Hydrogeosciences
Hydrogeosciences

The Research Network for Geosciences in Berlin and Potsdam

Hydrochemistry

AWI - Alfred Wegener Institute

About the Laboratory

Hydrochemistry

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Description

Instruments

Analytical Methods

Laboratory Keywords

Disciplines

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