Forensic Geochemistry

Empiria Labs provides high quality analytical services and scientific interpretation with emphasis on organic geochemistry, surface geochemical exploration, oil spill evaluation, forensic environmental, and E&P environmental assessment.

Our forensic environmental geochemistry methods are based in highly modified EPA and NOAA procedures and proprietary methods. We are focused in the extraction and analysis of organic compounds in sediments, soils, tissues (fish, bivalves, etc.) and vegetable material) using ultra-high resolution instrumentation. Our typical analytical procedures include:

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and its alkyl-substituted homologs by GCMS-SIM

TPH ranging between n-C10 to n-C40+Isoprenoids (Pr & Ph) by HRGC/FID

Quantitation of unresolved complex mixture (UCM)

Butyltins (TeBT, TBT, DBT, and MBT) by GCMS-SIM

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) & Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs)

WOGC and C15+ n-alkanes by CG/FID

Interstitial Headspace Gas Analysis (C1 to C5+) by GC/FID

Hydrocarbon extraction in sediments and soils by Dionex ASE-350

Total Scanning Fluorescence (TSF)

Gas Isotope analysis by compound specific isotope analysis by GC-IrMS

Total Organic Carbon by LECO-220

Grain size distribution by Sieving by ASTM D422

Moisture content and pH of soils and sediments by ASTM D2216 & ASTM D4972

PCBs & Organochlorinated pesticides (DDT, HCH, chlordane, HCB, lindane, etc.)