Copyright © Rick Knurr. All rights reserved.

   

The Ion Chrom Analytical advantage:


  • Equipped with Thermo Dionex instrumentation, analytical columns, and accessories
  • Focused on separation of peaks, not speed of analysis
  • Each chromatogram is visually inspected to make sure every peak integration is correct
  • Detection limits for all analytes are < 10 parts per billion (ppb), with some < 2 ppb (F, NO3, NO2, Li, Na, Mg)
  • Each set of analyses includes duplicates, check standards, and blanks
  • Maximum sample load per month is 450 injections for both anions and cations
  • All sample preparations and analyses are performed by me personally

About

Rick A. Knurr
After taking early retirement in 2016 from the University of Minnesota Department of Earth Sciences, where I had 28 years of experience in laboratory services using ion chromatography (IC), I am very happy and excited to get back into the analytical field of water testing.


Professional Experience

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Senior Scientist, Sept 1988 - Mar 2016


At the University of Minnesota I provided a variety of laboratory services using ion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy.  I analyzed water samples for UMN Earth Sciences,  UMN Civil Engineering, UMN Cancer Research Center, UMN Veterinary Institute, MN St Croix Watershed Research Station,  MN DNR, MN USGS, Illinois State, Iowa State, Utah State, U of Maryland, U of Texas at Austin, City of Minneapolis, and others.  The types of water analyzed included ground water, sea water, deep sea vent water, septic system water, farm holding ponds, pore water, drainage ponds, lakes, rivers, precipitation samples, and laboratory experiments.  I have extensive experience dealing with small sample sizes and tough matrices.  I have used Dionex (now Thermo) analytical equipment throughout my entire career, so I am very familiar with and have great confidence in their technology.


Current Customers

University of Minnesota, University of Iowa, Iowa State University,

Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, Minnesota USGS,

Mower SWCD, Chitogen Inc.


Education

Lawrence University, Appleton, WI
BA in Chemistry and Geology

University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
MS in Geology (crystallography)

Rick A. Knurr