Analytical Chemistry - Elemental Analysis

Offering a range of extraction, digestion and elemental analysis services at Rothamsted.

HOW CAN WE HELP? GET IN TOUCH TO LEARN MORE.

OUR SERVICES

Specialising in the preparation and elemental analysis of soil, crops and environmental samples, our state of the art facilities provide a specialist agricultural analysis service for research programmes and external clients. Delivering high-precision analysis, we offer a wide range of standard and bespoke analytical services which can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

Following a £730,000 refurbishment in 2021, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC), the Analytical Chemistry Facility offers flagship laboratories, providing chemical services in support of strategic agricultural science. Between 2018 and 2025 the Analytical Chemistry Facility at Harpenden was awarded a further £1.7 million of investment from BBSRC for the acquisition of world leading, hi-tech instrumentation.

As part of the world's longest-running agricultural research institute, the Analytical Chemistry Facility has a proven track record and a leading worldwide reputation for producing high quality data for a range of clients, including research institutes, universities, and environmental start-up companies to large global corporations.

Providing a comprehensive range of standard and specialist elemental services, we have a team of highly experienced analysts who specialise in a particular instrument or set of protocols. With the necessary knowledge to handle low weight samples, unusual materials or matrices, and adapting protocols to obtain the best outcome for your work.

If you would like further information please contact us, we can arrange a Teams consultation to discuss your specific needs in more detail. Email: analytical.chemistry.h@rothamsted.ac.uk

Sample Materials

We primarily work with soil, plant materials, environmental waters, soil and plant extracts, composts, FYM and nutrient solutions, but please contact us if your sample material is not listed, we have experience with a wide range of sample materials.

Quality Assurance

The facility adheres to strict QA benchmarks, following the joint BBSRC, FSA & NERC led Joint Code of Practice for Research (JCoPR) and participates in the WEPAL European Quality Assurance Programme.

We follow strict QA protocols, using Certified Reference Materials and in-house reference standards within all sample runs. All samples are weighed not scooped and matrix matching is of particular importance to maintain high quality data.

Services and Instrumentation

We offer a comprehensive range of services, including initial sample preparation (drying, sieving and milling), where homogeneity is paramount to the quality of the final data. With laboratories specialising in acid digestion for total elemental analyses, and a wide range of soil extraction procedures for exchangeable and plant available determinations. Equipped with state of the art instrumentation, we provide high level performance in terms of speed, accuracy, precision and reliability. Take a look in more detail at our instrumentation.

Quotes

Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements in more detail. A full customised quotation for work is available on request.

To allow for flexibility, where analyses are required over a period of time but sample numbers and services are not confirmed it is possible to purchase a subscription, which gives the client flexibility to make changes to the services required.

EXTRACTION AND DIGESTION STANDARD SERVICES

Procedure	Determination	Sample
Nitric/perchloric digestion	Total cations: major + trace elements	Crop (milled)
Aqua regia digestion	Total cations: major + trace elements	Soil (milled)
Microwave digestion	Boron, ICP-MS analysis	Crop (milled)
Ammonium nitrate extraction	Exchangeable cations: available K Ca Mg Na	Soil (2mm)
Sodium bicarbonate extraction	Available P (Olsen P)	Soil (2mm)
Mehlich III extraction	Plant available: major + trace elements	Soil (2mm)
Potassium chloride extraction	Available nitrate and ammonium	Soil (fresh)
Cold water extraction	Nitrate and chloride	Crop (milled)

SAMPLE ANALYSIS SERVICES

Instrumental Procedure	Determination	Sample
ICP-OES	Major + trace elements: (>50ppb in solution) Al B Ca Cd Co Cr Cu Fe K Mg Mn Mo Na Ni P Pb S Ti Zn	Water + crop/soil extracts + digests
ICP-MS	Trace elements: (<50ppb in solution) As Cd Co Cr Cu Mn Mo Ni Pb Se Ti Zn	Water + crop/soil extracts + digests
Skalar San PLUS anion colourimetric continuous flow analysis	Available NO3-N NH4-N NO2-N PO4-P Cl + Total soluble nitrogen (UV oxidation)	Water + soil/crop/FYM extracts + digests
Leco Dumas combustion analysis	Total nitrogen and carbon	Crop/soil (milled)
Skalar Primacs acid addition inorganic carbon analysis	Inorganic carbon	Soil (milled)
Total organic carbon	TOC (as NPOC)	Water + soil extracts
pH and EC	pH in water, pH + EC	Soil (2mm)
Dry matter (oven)	Dry matter weights	Soil
Loss on ignition (muffle furnace)	Loss on ignition	Soil