Milestone’s DMA-80 allows precise and cost-effective direct mercury analysis

The Palaeoworks Lab conducts research on the historical and current uses of mercury in Australia. Based at the Australian National University (ANU), the group aims to establish how industrialisation has affected the natural mercury cycle and the potential adverse effects to the environment.
The Lab has been conducting collaborative research involving the sciences and humanities with the aim to not only research the science and history of mercury in the environment, but also to help better understanding the social impact and public policy implications of this important element in our modern world.
An expanding network of university-based researchers working on mercury in Australia (www.mercury-australia.com) are being co-ordinated through the Palaeoworks Lab to be at the forefront of developing high quality analyses of mercury for research, cost-effective methods to support teaching activities, and building multi-disciplinary teams to advance scientific and social research at a global scale.

An expanding network of university-based researchers working on mercury in Australia (www.mercury-australia.com) are being co-ordinated through the Palaeoworks Lab to be at the forefront of developing high quality analyses of mercury for research, cost-effective methods to support teaching activities, and building multi-disciplinary teams to advance scientific and social research at a global scale.
The Palaeoworks Lab requires high precision analyses of mercury for their research. Previously the Lab was analysing mercury using an ICP-MS, which was not performing well with analyses of low mercury concentrations. The other consideration was the high cost of running and maintenance of the ICP-MS.

The Lab is following the US EPA method 7473. They analyse about 500 samples per month. Sample types include turtle shells, hair, fish, tree rings, water, sediment and bone amongst others.
The Palaeoworks Lab was seeking a mercury analyzers taking into consideration the cost, feasibility to integrate them into teaching activities and efficiency to measure mercury with precision at low levels. After extensive research, the Paleoworks Lab decided that the DMA-80 was the best option for their laboratory.
They are very satisfied with the DMA-80 low detection limit and its easy user-interface, allowing them to integrate the instrument into practical lectures and have students running the instrument with limited supervision.
The DMA is faster, simpler and cost-effective to run. Simply put, it met all the requirements of all Palaeoworks lab.