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Fondazione Edmund Mach
Fondazione Edmund Mach
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Hydrochemistry

We provide analytical services for water analysis and chemical profiling of cyanobacterial toxins. All methods are based on reference protocols (IRSA-CNR and Standard Methods) and the quality is ensured by internal and external procedures (intercalibrations).

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Instruments

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Waters UPLC - Sciex 4000QTRAP LC-MS system

The LC-MS equipment offers excellent sensitivity and specificity in short analytical run times. It is used for the quali- and quantitative analysis of cyanobacterial toxins 

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DIONEX ICS5000 Ion chromatographer

It is used for the simultaneous analysis of anions and cations in freshwaters

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CRISON Titromatic automatic titrator

It is used for the simultaneous determination of pH, electrical conductivity and alkalinity in freshwaters

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Thermo Evolution 201 spectrophotometer

It is used in the colorimetric assays (e.g. different nitrogen and phosphorus forms, and silica) in freshwaters

Services

Chemical and physical analysis of water plus chlorophyll

Determination of pH, conductivity, alkalinity, anions (chlorides, nitrates, sulphates), cations (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium), ammonia and total nitrogen, soluble and total phosphorus, silica, chlorophyll and dry weight in surface waters

Quali- and quantitative profiling of cyanobacterial toxins

Analysis of microcystins, nodularin, anatoxins, cylindrospermopsins, saxitoxins (LC-MS/MS) in water or algal biomass

Applications

Freshwater quality

In a water environment, chemical and physical parameters are influenced by many factors. Their measurement provides information on the quality status and is useful for monitoring changes in progress or for characterizing a particular moment.

Cyanobacterial toxins in freshwater

Cyanobacteria can release toxic substances into the water. The molecular profile of cyanotoxins is essential for a correct assessment of the risk associated with their presence. The measurement may concern dissolved, cell-bound or total cyanotoxins.