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Environmental and biochemical analysis

Environmental and biochemical analysis

SINTEF Ocean offers chemical analysis of emerging and priority pollutants, petroleum products and biomolecules. With our advanced analytical platform, we tailor analytical solutions to each project. We co-operate closely with laboratories across SINTEF to offer advanced analysis for any research need.

Man in white coat in laboratory

We have in-house expertise in the development, optimization and validation of analytical methodologies, and can quickly adapt methods to new challenges. For analysis of complex analytical data sets, we apply multivariate statistical methods.

Advanced characterization of priority and emerging pollutants

  • Characterization of complex, environmental mixtures using two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (GCxGC-qToFMS)
  • Analysis of emerging pollutants by GC-MS/MS and/or LC-MS/MS
  • Identification of biotransformation products and metabolites
  • Microplastic and polymer analysis by thermal desorption and pyrolysis GC-MS
  • We offer both traditional and state-of-the art sample preparation for any sample matrix (including water, sediments and biota)

Petroleum analysis and crude oil fingerprinting

  • Analysis of total petroleum hydrocarbons, target saturates and aromatic hydrocarbons (> 100 target analytes) are performed with GC-FID and GC-MS. Our analysis includes an extended suite of parent and alkyl-substituted PAHs and phenols.
  • Oil spill fingerprinting according to CEN Guideline CEN/TR15522-2:2012
  • Highly sensitive GC tandem MS (GC-MS/MS) is used to analyse PAHs and alkylphenols in small volumes and organisms

Gas and volatiles analysis

  • An extended list of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including C5-C10 saturates and C0-C5 monoaromatic compounds, are analysed by purge and trap gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (P&T GC-MS)
  • Climate gases can be analysed by GC-FID

Advanced characterization of biomolecules

  • Lipidomics and pigment characterization by LC-MS/MS
  • Metabolomics by NMR

Particle characterization

  • Analysis of droplets and particulates by Coulter Counter
  • Nanoparticle measurements with Zetasizer

Fate and effect studies closely linked to analytical chemistry

In our environmental laboratories we furthermore offer a wide range of both standardized and customized fate and effect studies to investigate the fate and impact of emerging and priority pollutants as well as micro-/nanoparticles in freshwater and marine eco-systems. We offer solutions for whole effluent testing (WET) and effect-directed analysis (EDA).

See also our Clean Ocean initiative

Published 24 May 2018

Contact person

Inger Kjersti Almås
Senior Engineer
982 43 444

Explore research areas

Other relevant laboratories

SINTEF SeaLab

The laboratories at SINTEF SeaLab have been established to support our research activities. They are well-equipped with instrumentation and can be adapted to various kinds of studies.

Ecotoxicology laboratory at SINTEF SeaLab

This laboratory has husbandry facilities for aquatic organisms at various trophic levels, and is equipped to carry out exposure and biodegradation studies at different temperatures using through-flow systems.

Microbiology laboratory at SINTEF SeaLab

Our laboratory applies a range of analytical methods in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology and medical microbiology. Our activities focus primarily on the biodegradation of environmental toxins and the implementation of data in our environmental models.

The meso-scale laboratory at SINTEF SeaLab

This laboratory enables us to verify the results of bench-scale experiments under more realistic conditions. Our facilities, in which temperatures can be regulated, provide us with major advantages during tasks such as the preparation of field experiments, as well as giving researchers and our industrial partners new data in support of how different types of crude oil discharges to the marine environment and oil strandings should be managed.

Oil Laboratory at SINTEF SeaLab

This laboratory carries out analyses designed to assess the behaviour and ultimate fate of oils in the marine environment.

Contact

Visiting address:

Brattørkaia 17 c, Trondheim, Norway

Projects

PW-Exposed

Start: 01/03/2018
End: 28/02/2021

Produced water (PW) from the oil and gas industry represents the largest direct discharge of effluent into the marine environment worldwide. Approximately 130 million m3 PW is released on the Norwegian continental shelf annually from offshore production platforms.

NANOREG

Start: 01/03/2013
End: 31/08/2016

The innovative and economic potential of Manufactured Nano Materials (MNMs) is threatened by a limited understanding of the related Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) issues. NANoREG is the first FP7 project to deliver the answers needed by regulators and legislators on EHS by linking them to a scientific evaluation of data and test methods.

MICROFIBRE: Evaluating the fate, effects and mitigation measures for microplastic fibre pollution in aquatic environments

Start: 01/02/2017
End: 31/03/2021

To understand the environmental behaviour and impacts of microplastic fibres (MPFs) in order to develop a decision support framework that enables garment manufacturers to make environmentally informed choices in their material selection.

PLASTOX – Direct and indirect ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on marine organisms

Start: 01/01/2016
End: 31/12/2018

The amount of plastic litter, especially microplastics, in the ocean are quickly accumulating. The PLASTOX-project aims to investigate the environmental impacts resulting from microplastics.

Related content

Mass spectrometry - Advanced research-based analyses

We perform research-based mass spectrometric (MS) and high-throughput (HTS) analyses for SINTEF, academia and industry.

OSCAR – Oil Spill Contingency and Response

OSCAR is a state of the art model and simulation tool for predicting the fates and effects of oil released during an accidental release of oil, either from a platform or a vessel. OSCAR provides insight in the behavior of oil during an accident and captures the effects of contingency and response, allowing for contingency analysis and planning as well as hind- and forecasting.

DREAM – Dose-related Risk and Effects Assessment Model

The numerical model DREAM (Dose related Risk and Effect Assessment Model) accounts for releases of complex mixtures of chemicals, such as those associated with produced water and drilling discharges. DREAM is used as a decision support tool for management of operational discharges to the marine environment.

Ocean Space Environmental Risk and Impact Assessment

Start: 16/09/2021 08:00
End: 16/09/2021 17:00
Location: Britannia Hotell
Address: Dronningens gate 5, 7011 Trondheim

Welcome to OSRIA – Ocean Space Environmental Risk and Impact Assessment seminar in Trondheim.

SURE – Advanced modelling tool for Subsea Gas Release

Start: 01/04/2013
End: 01/04/2015

With support from industry actors, the SINTEF has established a research project to learn more about the effects and hazards of underwater gas blowouts and gas leaks.

ACCESS – Arctic Climate Change, Economy and Society

Start: 01/03/2011
End: 28/02/2015

ACCESS will evaluate climatic impacts in the Arctic on marine transportation (including tourism), fisheries, marine mammals and the extraction of hydrocarbons for the next 20 years; with particular attention to environmental sensitivities and sustainability. These meso-economic issues will be extended to the macro-economic scale in order to highlight trans-sectoral implications and provide an integrated assessment of the socio-economic impact of climate change.