Environmental Health
Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory
About the Laboratory
Chemists and geologists at the Kansas Water Science Center's Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) develop targeted and non-targeted analytical methods for the identification and quantitation of chemicals that can impact the health of humans and other organisms and use bioassays to screen for receptor inhibition. They have developed methods to do so in a wide variety of environmental media (water [surface, ground, tap], wastewater, soil, sediment, manure, biosolids).
Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory — Lawrence, Kansas. Pressurized Fluid Extractor
(Credit: Julie E. Dietze, USGS. Public domain.)
Key Analytical Capabilities
- Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals
- Algal/Cyanobacterial Toxins
- Estrogenic and Androgenic compounds
- Pesticide, Pesticide Degradates and Additives
- Non-target Compound Analysis by Liquid Chromatography/accurate Mass Spectrometry
- Custom Method Development
Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory — Lawrence, Kansas. Scientists working on at time-of-flight mass spectrometer
(Credit: Julie E. Dietze, USGS. Public domain.)
Key Instrumentation
- New (2018) 1,830 square foot modern laboratory facility
- Three bioinert liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometers
- Two bioinert liquid chromatography/accurate mass spectrometers to understand complexity of chemical mixtures and for identification of unknown chemicals
- Automated bioassay plate reader and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer for measuring receptor inhibition and chemical screening
- Solid phase and pressurized fluid extraction for working with a variety of liquid and solid samples
View of the new (2018) instrument laboratory at the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL), Lawrence, Kansas. View of a row of instruments in the laboratory.
(Credit: Julie E. Dietze, USGS. Public domain.)
Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory — Lawrence, Kansas. Sample processing laboratory.
(Credit: Julie E. Dietze, USGS. Public domain.)