Central Environmental Lab

The Central Environmental Laboratory (CEL), established in 1970, is maintained by the Biology Department for faculty and student research. The CEL has also been used by faculty and graduate students from other universities throughout the southeast, as well as several state and federal agencies such as NOAA and the EPA. The equipment is maintained by the CEL manager and is ready for use by faculty and students with advance notice. The CEL not only provides analytical services but lectures and laboratory demonstrations are available through the CEL manager, useful for various classes in the Biology, Geological Sciences, and Human Environmental Science Departments.  

Analytical Equipment

Equipment in the CEL includes high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), TOC/TN analyzer, pH/ion selective meters, analytical balances, muffle furnace, drying ovens, UV/Vis spectrophotometers, turbidimeter, autoclaves, Kjeldahl nitrogen digestion unit/block digester, mechanical shaking tables, incubators, freezers, vented hoods, tissue homogenizers, hot plates, water baths, centrifuges, and its own deionized water system.  

Major instrumentation includes:

	SmartChem Nutrient Analyzer Analyzes nitrate, nitrite, ammonia , ortho-phosphate, kjedahl nitrogen and phosphate, chloride and other EPA protocols
	Shimadzu TOC/TN Analyzer  Measures amount of carbon: inorganic and organic, as well as total nitrogen from the same injection
	Shimadzu HPLC  High Pressure Liquid Chromatography   Separation, detection and quantification of components in a solution

 Other Analytical Services

Water (surface water – fresh or saline, precipitation, porewater and groundwater), soil, sediment, plant and animal tissues can be analyzed for a number of components including various forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, fluoride, chloride, and chlorophyll a.

Training, Education and Outreach

Students are taught research methodology, laboratory safety, and the use and care of the equipment needed for their research.  Students are required to take ECU's Environmental Health and Safety online Chemical Hygiene/Lab Safety Training and provide the CEL manager with a copy of the EH&S results e-mail. In addition to the online training, the CEL manager will review the CEL specific lab safety requirements and responsibilities with CEL users and a signed Student Laboratory Safety and Responsibility Agreement is required from each student and the manager. 

Costs

Sample analysis costs are based on consumables use, a nominal maintenance fee and tech labor. Rates varied if student labor is provided, for example.  Prices are subject to change yearly as consumable costs change.  A Sample Analysis Request Form must be filled out by the PI allowing for sufficient time to schedule the analyses.

Contact Information:

Colleen Rochelle Lab Manager Research Specialist Email: rochellec@ecu.edu Office: S106A Lab: S106 Phone: 328-1691 Office:  328-6287