The University of Washington Tacoma research laboratories at the Center for Urban Waters are equipped with analytical instrumentation focused on the detection, identification, and quantification of organic chemicals in the environment.  These laboratories support both target and non-target approaches, including:

  • Quantification of very low concentrations of semivolatile chemicals including parent and substituted PAHs and PCB congeners by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Agilent 7890A/5977A)
  • Quantification of polar consumer products (pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products) by liquid chromatography/MS-MS (Agilent 1290/6430)
  • Identification of unknown (non-target) chemicals by liquid chromatograph/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Agilent 1290/6530).
  • Quantification and characterization of marine microplastics by wet chemical methods developed at Urban Waters.