Chemtexas has provided reliable environmental testing services with matrices that include air, water, solids and hazardous waste to industrial clients, engineering firms, consultants and government agencies. We also provide services to a number of municipal and industrial wastewater plants to meet their TCEQ and EPA regulatory requirements.
For a list of our analyses that include the sample size, container, preservation or holding time of a sample for an Environmental analysis, please refer to our Environmental Analytical Reference Guide. Also, please use our Sample Kit Guide to assist you in packing your Environmental testing samples.
Total RCRA metals – The total concentration of 8 metals of special concern for disposal. These eight are arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), and mercury (Hg).
TCLP RCRA metals – Those same 8 metals are analyzed after a special extraction that simulates the changes in a landfill.
TCLP – Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. This special extraction is meant to simulate the changes in a landfill. After this TCLP extraction, the sample extract can be tested for Volatile Organics, Semivolatile Organics, Pesticides, Herbicides, or the above 8 metals. In this test take 100 grams of the waste and extract in a liquid, acetic acid solution for 18 hrs (overnight) and analyze the extract for 42 components. If any of the components are above the government defined TCLP limit it is classified as hazardous. Sometimes clients may want a TCLP metals analysis done on other metals as well.
Dissolved Metals – A metals analysis performed after the sample has been filtered through a 0.45 micron filter. Filtration must be done before preservation with nitric acid.
TCLP TX335 – This Texas rule applies the USEPA TCLP extraction procedure to 11 metals, plus additional volatiles, semivolatiles, pesticides, herbicides, 8015 (mostly organic alcohols), and 8316 (acrylomide).
Holding Times – These are the maximum allowable times from sample collection to sample analysis for each test. They are determined by USEPA and differ for different matrices. For example, the holding time for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in water is 7 days. The holding time for semivolatile organics in water is 7 days until extraction and another 40 days until analysis.
Short Holds – A & B Labs defines any analysis with a holding time of less than or equal to 48 hours as a short hold. These analyses must be done very quickly upon arrival so A & B Labs requires them to be given immediately to the analyst. They include turbidity, orthophosphate, nitrite-N, nitrate-N, color, and BOD / CBOD which all have a water holding time of only 48 hours. Coliform bacteria in drinking water is 30 hours. Coliform bacteria and other microbiological parameters have a holding time in wastewater of a measly 6 hours. Hexavalent chromium in water is only 24 hours. Finally many tests in water are meant to be done in the field (such as temperature, pH, DO, and chlorine) and therefore have a holding time of 15 minutes. A complication to always remember is that any test can become a short hold if the client held on to it long enough.
Chemtexas Environmental Services, Inc. dba Chemtexas Labs is one of the most accredited independently owned environmental testing laboratories in the U.S.
