Company Donates Lab Equipment for Geological Study at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Chemical Waste Management-Emelle has donated lab equipment valued at approximately $40,000 to The University of Alabama’s department of geological sciences.

The instrument, an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer, will be used in research projects to analyze the major, minor and trace element composition of liquids.

“The instrument will be used to produce analytical data needed for faculty and student research projects for many years to come,” said Dr. Rona J. Donahoe, a professor of environmental geochemistry in the department of geological sciences and director of UA’s Geochemistry Analytical Laboratory.

“The instrument is in excellent condition and more than a decade newer than the original ICP-OES located in the analytical laboratory,” Donahoe said. “With two of these instruments now available in the laboratory, the new instrument can be dedicated to the analysis of natural water samples.”

The donation was made in honor of Donahoe and Dr. Samuel Addy, director and research economist of UA’s Center for Business and Economic Research and associate dean for research and outreach in the Culverhouse College of Commerce.

Throughout the last 30 years, Donahoe has taken numerous geology students on educational field trips to the Emelle Hazardous Waste Facility, a secure landfill operated by Chemical Waste Management in Sumter County.

Addy, through his work on an economic impact study, assisted in creating legislation that reduced fees that were found by the Supreme Court to violate the Interstate Commerce Act, which had profound economic impact on the state of Alabama, specifically the west-central region of the state.

“CWM-Emelle wants to say thank you to Dr. Donahoe, Dr. Addy and The University of Alabama for what we consider to be a mutually beneficial relationship with this very prestigious university,” said David Myhan, vice president of Waste Management’s Gulf Coast area. “We at CWM-Emelle recognized that this lab equipment would be of great benefit to the University and its geological sciences students. Learning how to utilize this equipment as part of their studies will prepare students for future jobs in the environmental field.”

The instrument will be housed in the Geochemistry Analytical Facility, located in UA’s Bevill Building, and will be available for use by the University community as well as external users.

The department of geological sciences is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today All-USA Academic Teams.