Chemical analysis

A diverse range of routine and bespoke inorganic and organic analyses.

Sector: Aquaculture, Extractive Industries, The Environment

The chemical analysis team supplies a wide range of professional and high-quality analytical services to multiple industries and sectors including research, energy, food and drink, cosmetics, healthcare, construction and environmental monitoring. Techniques range widely from standard to more specialised for problematic sample types and the chemistry used in these analyses can qualify and quantify organic and inorganic contaminants/pollutants in a variety of matrices.

Utilising a variety of digestion and extraction techniques, including aqua regia, microwave digestion and lithium metaborate fusion, the team can routinely analyse a variety of sample types, including, but not exclusively:

Waters (natural, waste and produced), plant materials, soils, seaweeds, sediments, sludges, oils (energy and food products), rocks, bread and flour, alcohol, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

With the capabilities to carry out a wide range of inorganic and organic analyses tailored to specific requirements, the laboratory can also advise on statistical sampling strategies and provide data interpretation in relation to regulatory limits and toxicity.

Techniques

Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)
Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionisation Detector (GC-FID)
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Inductively Couple Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
Inductively Couple Plasma – Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS)
Low Level Mercury Analysis
Ion Chromatography (IC), Discrete Analyser, Total Organic Carbon
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Spectrophotometer (including HACH)
Alkalinity
Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)
Sulphur Dioxide
Methanol & Ethanol
Residual Solvents
Specific gravity / conductivity / pH / turbidity
Total Dissolved Solids / Total Suspended Solids

There are also numerous bench chemistry techniques available including spectrophotometry, titrations, chromium speciation, Monier Williams method, ion specific electrometric techniques and Karl Fisher titration.

Specific Analyses

Major inorganic anions such as Fluoride (F^-), Chloride (Cl^-), Bromide (Br^-), Nitrate (NO₃^- ) and Sulphate (SO₄^2-)
Total Inorganic/Organic Carbon (TIC/TOC) and Total Nitrogen (TN) content of water samples.
Colourimetric analysis using almost any recognised colourimetric technique to determine ammonium, soluble reactive phosphorus and total alkalinity content.
PLFA analysis to investigate the bacterial and fungal populations of soils
Pigment composition analysis to provide information on the biomass of waters
Organic contaminants from industrial processes (e.g. PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, POPs, EDCs) for compliance with environmental regulations.
Organic additives in foodstuffs.
Characterisation and composition of oilfield compounds and materials.
Full array of metal and non-metals from macro through to ultra-trace.
Essential elements and contaminants including speciation, e.g. Cr(VI) /Cr(III).
Full range of decomposition and extractions techniques of most sample types including silicates by Lithium Metaborate fusion.
COD, BOD, cyanide in waste water samples.
Residual Solvent Analysis

Accreditation

The James Hutton Institute analytical laboratories operate to the standards required by UKAS accreditation and many of our routine techniques are accredited. A full accreditation schedule can be found at www.UKAS.com

Our ability to perform a huge variety of techniques means that in general a one-off analysis may not be accredited but our total commitment to high standards ensures it will be carried out to the exacting specifications that accreditation requires.

Sample Submission Form

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The Analysts

Organic analyses

Dr Sandhya Devalla

Senior Analytical Chemist

Sandhya has over 15 years’ experience in the area of analytical chemistry. The main focus of her work has been in the development of analytical methodologies and assessments of organic and inorganic contaminants in different environmental compartments.

Douglas Kindness

Analytical Chemist

Esther Williams

Laboratory Assistant

Inorganic analyses

Fiona Sturgeon

ICP Lead

Carol Curran

Research Scientist

Susan McIntyre

Research Scientist

Case Studies

Oil & Gas 2

Chemical compatibility testing of injected fluids with umbilical liners.

Other Services

Bacteria testing at James Hutton Limited

Bacterial testing

Our team has over 30 years’ experience working in industry, Government bodies and research institutions, carrying out microbiological analysis on a range of materials using culturing and Most Probable Number (MPN) techniques.

Environmental Technology Verification (ETV)

Providing credible, reliable and independent verification of environmental technologies which have an impact or added value for the environment.

Crop and Crop Chemistry Trials

James Hutton Limited offers a world-class crop trial service, complete with a dedicated crop trial manager to oversee your project.

Cannabinoids

Our expertise in all aspects of crop science – including breeding, diagnostics, soils, pathogens, genetics and phytochemistry, lends itself to the burgeoning European cannabis and hemp agricultural sector.

GIS

GIS is the backbone of 21st century environmental planning and decision making; knowing where to make changes, what to expect, how to measure impacts and interventions, all rely on good GIS.

Water Test Network

James Hutton Limited is one of ten European partners of the Water Test Network; an ERDF funded project which supports SMEs in North-West Europe (NWE) to test, demonstrate and develop new products for the water sector.

Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that involves the development and application of computational methods for the analysis of large-scale biological data ranging.

Marine Sediment Analysis

James Hutton Limited can help support work such as harbour construction or enlargement, flood defence systems, construction of new buildings, which will require an MS-LOT licence.

Renewable Energy

The multi-disciplinary scientific expertise available at the James Hutton Institute is ideally suited to address issues facing the developing renewable energy sector in the UK and internationally.

BioSS

Improving science and society through an understanding of variation, uncertainty and risk.

Soil Forensics

A leading forensic research and analysis service with unparalleled experience in analysis of soils, waters and other ecological/environmental materials.

Soil Analysis

The James Hutton Institute, and its predecessor organisations, is synonymous with soils with over 90 years experience of working with soils and farmers, as well as being responsible for the National Soils Database for Scotland.

Products & Licensing Opportunities

Innovations and resources from the James Hutton Institute, available for your own laboratory or research.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

FTIR Spectroscopy is an extremely versatile analytical technique which can provide a chemical fingerprint for a diverse range of both organic and inorganic samples.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Electron Microscopy is an extremely versatile tool which allows the study of both morphology and material composition from virtually all areas of science and technology.

Lipid Analysis

James Hutton Limited is home to Mylnefield Lipid Analysis, a specialist lipid laboratory established at the James Hutton Institute in 1995 by Bill Christie and Frank Gunstone, renowned lipid analysis experts.

Isotope Analysis

The analysis of a wide range of stable isotopes, bulk and compound specific analysis of light isotopes including, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen, and heavy isotopes, including Strontium, Neodymium, Samarium and Lead.

X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD)

X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) can be used to identify crystalline substances, such as most minerals. The James Hutton Institute XRPD team are global specialists in the analysis of clay minerals by this technique.

Molecular Diagnostics

Molecular Diagnostic tests can detect specific sequences in plant DNA or RNA that may be associated with disease resistance, quality/agronomic traits and varietal issues.

Plant Varieties, Breeding & Licensing

Breeders and scientists at James Hutton Limited and the James Hutton Institute use advanced breeding techniques supported by world-leading scientific expertise, ensuring the most innovative soft fruit and potato varieties.

Contract Research

James Hutton Limited manages a number of collaborative projects with industry partners who seek to benefit from scientific research and innovations.

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