Clean Chemistry

We maintain several clean facilities to control laboratory environments for handling low-level samples

The Clean Chemistry Team maintains expertise and capabilities for the handling methodologies and cleanroom facilities required for measurement of very low concentrations of radionuclides in environmental samples. Analytical platforms include multicollector thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), single and multicollector sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), quadrupole ICP-MS, and large geometry secondary ion mass spectrometry (LG-SIMS).

View the ISO 17025 Accreditation for the Clean Chemistry Team (pdf)

Technologist in a clean room facility

It is often essential to protect analytes from cross-contamination from legacy materials present in radiological laboratories. Nuclear and Radiochemistry maintains several clean facilities to control laboratory environments for handling low-level samples.

Mass spectrometry

Measurements to detect low-levels of isotopes are routinely conducted in Nuclear and Radiochemistry to support bioassay, environmental analysis, treaty monitoring, and other applications. The acquisition of a research large-geometry Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer opens opportunities to explore problems in fundamental science and establish new methodologies for characterizing small samples.

Left: Technologists working on Mass Spectrometry measurements
Right: Technologists working in a clean room facility