OUR SERVICES
Specialising in the preparation and elemental analysis of soil, crop and environmental samples, our state-of-the-art facilities provide a specialist agricultural analysis service for researchers at Rothamsted Research, collaborators, tenants and external clients.
Following a £730,000 refurbishment in 2021, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Analytical Chemistry Unit offers flagship laboratories, providing chemical services in support of strategic agricultural science.
Between 2018 and 2023, the Analytical Chemistry Facility at Harpenden was awarded a further £1 million of investment from BBSRC for the acquisition of world leading, hi-tech instrumentation.
Our facilities include preparation labs designed for sample weighing, acid digestion and a wide range of extraction procedures. With a range of specialist laboratories equipped with the most advanced instrumentation available, we provide high level performance in terms of speed, accuracy, precision, and reliability. Analysis services include major and trace element determination by : Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and : Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), total nitrogen/carbon, inorganic carbon, total organic carbon (TOC) and anion analysis by colourimetric continuous flow.
All procedures are primarily aimed at researchers or clients looking for a high-quality service, where precision and accuracy is essential. All samples are weighed not scooped and are performed by a team of highly skilled, experienced analysts.
All procedures adhere to strict Quality Assurance (QA) protocols; the facility follows the Joint Code of Practice (JCoPR) and participates in the WEPAL International Soil Exchange (ISE) and International Plant Exchange (IPE) programmes.
