About the Environmental and Analytical Laboratories
The Environmental and Analytical Laboratories (EAL) were purpose built in 1993 and are a specialist organisation of experienced chemists and analysts. The EAL provides an analytical commercial and research testing service catering to councils, industry, individuals, researchers and students.
Regionally located at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga, the EAL can provide a competitively priced service with a rapid turnaround. Through this affiliation with CSU, the EAL has access to an enormous pool of information and expertise to draw upon.
The EAL are accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and holds membership with other quality assurance bodies, such as the National Analytical Reference Laboratory (NARL) and the Australian Soil & Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC).
Research Facilities / Areas
The EAL is also a research centre equipped with cutting edge instrumentation such as a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer (GS-MS), liquid chromatograph and mass spectrometer (LC-MS). EAL not only provides researchers and postgraduate students at CSU with such facilities, but also conducts research in the following areas on its own or in cooperation with other research groups within the university, including:
- Allelopathy - chemical warfare between plants
- Development of analytical methodologies for allelopathy and other natural products research
- Characterisation and analysis of plant biophenols
- Development of natural herbicides from plants
- Development of methodologies for analysing pesticides and other pollutants in environmental samples by GC-MS - SPME, LC-MS
- Applications of GC-MS, LC-MS, GC-MS-SPME in biological, agricultural and environmental sciences for the characterisation of chemicals of interest
- Essential oils, particularly for the development of CSU benchmark standards for the Australian lavender industry
EAL is also a research centre offering the following for commercial clients, researchers and students:
- Chemical analysis
- Interpretation of results
- Training of personnel
- Method development
Equipment at the EAL
EAL has an extensive range of the latest analytical equipment including:
- GC-FID
- GC-ECD
- GC-NPD
- GC-MS
- LC-MS
- Ion Chromatography
- Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer
- AAS-Flame
- AAS-Hydride/Cold Vapour
- ICP-AES
- UV-VIS
- Continuous Flow Auto Analyser
- TKN Analyser
- Near Infra Red
- E-NOSE
- D.S.C.
Continual upgrading of our instruments gives clients high quality data that is complemented by sample preparation techniques such as filtration, sonication, extraction, microwave digestion, liquid-liquid extraction and liquid-solid extraction.
Instrument Booking Form - Postgraduate and Researchers
The Instrument Booking Form is for internal CSU users of the EAL only.
You can submit this form either online or print and return to the EAL in hard copy. (Fax or email attachment)
Fax - (02) 6933 2477
Email Attachment - eal@csu.edu.au
Quality assurance
The production of quality data is of paramount importance to the team of professionally minded and skilled analytical staff.
Compliance to rigid quality controls within the quality assurance system helps ensure consistent and reliable results. All laboratory procedures include comprehensive protocols to monitor and control every aspect of a sample's movement from receipt to report.
All methods are sourced from APHA or other internationally recognised methodologies such as AOAC and USEPA.
The laboratories hold nationally recognised accreditations with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and certifications with the Australian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC). The laboratory is operated under a quality management system in compliance with the requirements of ISO 17025-2005.