Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer (ICP)

The ICP was acquired in 1996 with a grant from the National Science Foundation to Drs Tim Lincoln and Russ Clark. Dr Lincoln supervises the use of the instrument. It is capable of determining the concentration of most elements dissolved in water. It is extremely sensitive, capable of detecting as little as one part per billion of many elements. Yet it is very easy to use, and many introductory students have used it to complete research projects such as documenting abundance of copper and zinc in runoff from city streets.

Example of student research project:

Amy Macrellis (’97).  Low level Pb, Zn, and Ni contamination in North Branch Kalamazoo River Sediments. Amy showed that heavy metals are leaching from an abandoned foundry into the Kalamazoo River, but that the level of contamination is quite low.