WRRC Analytical Laboratory (Holmes 181; Catherine Rong, krong@hawaii.edu)
Working closely with the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, the 700 sq. ft. laboratory was equipped with a wide variety of instruments for the analysis of environmental pollutants at trace levels of parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb), and parts per trillion (ppt).
The environmental pollutants range from volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds such as petroleum hydrocarbons, industrial solvents, explosives, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) to endocrine disruptors such as organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
The laboratory also has instruments capable of measuring for major ions, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, surface area, particle sizing, zeta potential, and metal analysis.
Laboratory Projects
- Degradation product speciation of sewage sludge with thermal hydrolysis pretreatment
- Effects of extracellular polymeric substances on carbon diversion
- Stability study of nanoparticle colloids
- Hawaii Play Fairway: An updated geolological assessment for the State of Hawaii
- South-Central and Southeast Oahu groundwater flow path investigation: Understanding groundwater source location and flow path to public drinking water wells
- ʻIke Wai (tracking water sources): Understanding source locations and flow paths of groundwater within Pearl Harbor and Hualālai aquifers
- Investigation of the potential of available Hawaiian filter medium such as compost, coconut coir, mulch, and biochar, in removing stormwater pollutants
- Use of fecal indicator bacteria in monitoring microbial risks in tropical urban estuary of Ala Wai Canal
Environmental Chemistry Lab Transitions to SRRC July 1
On July 1, 2025, we begin operating as a Special Fund Research Recharge Center (SRRC). All users of the SRRC will be charged a service fee, and the fee schedule can be viewed here. Additional information on the analysis we offer can be found here.
For UH users, invoicing and payment will be completed by KFS Internal Billing. For non-UH (external) users, we accept purchase orders and payment by check. Unfortunately, we cannot accept credit card payments at this time.
To begin or continue utilizing services of the lab, each principal investigator (PI) must review and complete the User Agreement.
For each new project requiring our services, please also complete the Intake Form(s). PIs who have ongoing projects already utilizing services of the lab can skip this.
Complete Intake Form A if you require sample analysis.
Complete Intake Form B if you require instrument time.
Users who are permitted to schedule instrument time should submit their requests on the FY2026 Instrument Booking Form starting from July 1.
Sample Preparation Guideline: WRRC-Sample-Info
User Agreement: FY2026_WRRC-User-Agreement-fillable.pdf
Calendars
