Section specialized in analysis of organic micropolluting agents (pesticides, PAH’s, volatile organic compounds), radioactivity and ions by high performance liquid chromatography.

For organic micropolluting agents we count on the latest technology that allows us to carry out analysis of compounds to traceable concentrations; case of the acrylamide determination, whose detection limit is 0' 05 µg/L, being Spain’s single accredited laboratory for these concentration levels.

Thanks to one of the main lines of applied investigation of the Section “Fast and automatic sample preparation and analysis methods”, we have a great capacity of analytical response, with very short deadlines to provide the results and very low detection limits.

We have been insisting particularly on the development of methods directed to sample volume reduction that allow in a comfortable and economic manner to transport samples from any geographic point.

An example, in this respect, is the usage of the Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) technique connected to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. This method, that has been validated and accredited by ENAC (The National Spanish Accreditation Body), allows the simultaneous analysis of more than 150 organic micropolluting agents in waters and other matrices with quantification levels lower than 0'01 µg/L with just 100 mL of sample volume.

Another example for domestic waters is the odour in the consumers’ taps. We are enabled to perform this determination in just a short time and to realise an ample screening of compounds susceptible to produce odours, using different concentration and analysis techniques. We optimize the time of analysis due to the last technology of automatic injection for laborious techniques as the concentration by using Purge&Trap or Headspace.

Between the numerous analytical determinations for the quality control of waters and solid matrices, we emphasize the performance of all type of pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), endocrine disruptors (EDCs), organotin compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organic solvents, halogenated compounds, ketones, esters, gasoline, paints, by-products of disinfection, seaweed metabolites , phenols, aliphatic hydrocarbons, chloroalkanes, microcistines, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and screening of volatile or semivolatile organic compounds.

In the field of the analysis of organic micropolluting agents in air we emphasize the analysis of PAHs (in particulate and gaseous fraction) in emission or immission, aldehydes by means of DNPH-derivatization method and analyses by HPLC, aliphatic hydrocarbons by means of GC-MS, volatile organic compounds (sampled in tedlarbags, or by means of active or passive capture on activated carbon), etc.

Regarding radioactivity we realise a screening of alpha and beta activity, being able to perform tritium and rest beta activity analysis in solid and liquid matrices. A simultaneous analysis of 10 samples can be done, so samplings with a great number of samples can be performed in just a short time.

We have three High Performance Liquid Chromatographs equipments with conductivity detector for ion determination. We are able to perform majority anions, bromates and also anions in low concentrations as for example chlorites, chlorates, etc. We determine bromides and we have the capacity to perform cations like sodium, potassium, ammonium, etc.

The ionic suppression system allows the performance of small compounds with a low permanence in the column without problems of fronts of cations or anions in each case and also elevated concentrations of ones front to low concentrations of others, as it is the case of bromates opposed to high chloride concentrations.

The technical and investigation activity of the Section is reflected in frequent publications in international magazines, such as Journal of Chromatography, Analitica Chimica Acta or Journal of Separation Science.