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Most frequent activities involve the determination of the following analytes: gaseous compounds (VOC, CO2, NH3, N2O, CH4, SFC), isotopes (14C, 13C, 15N), metals, natural  molecules  (ergosterols,   sugars,   PLFAs), soluble  compounds  in  soil  water  (NO3 ,  NH4 ), organic contaminants (PAHs,  pesticides, drugs, phthalates) and their transformation products. In addition, various parameters are regularly determined (DOC, TOC, SUVA, potential, conductivity, turbidity, etc.). The current techniques and methods are grouped into four categories (Fig. 23):

• Separative            methods:           liquid chromatography (UV, diode array, fluorometer, tandem mass spectrometry detectors), gas chromatography (electron capture, flame ionization, mass detection spectrometer), coupled chain thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, micro-chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis.
• Specific     methods:    atomic     emission spectrometry, mass spectrometry (with unit or isotopic resolution - 13C, 15N), elemental and continuous flow analysis systems for carbon and nitrogen compounds, and use of radioelements, including 14C (liquid scintillation counter, liquid chromatography, oxidizer, photoimager, and colorimetric continuous flow systems).
• Miscellaneous: DOC/TOC, UV-visible spectrometry (fluorometer), potentiometry, conductivity measurement, NIRS-MIRS spectrometers and turbidimeter.
• Sample preparation: columns, incubators, sieving, drying, and extraction (microwave assisted, pressurized liquid and high temperature, solid phase) systems.

A half-day meeting was organized in May 2014 with 21 technicians, engineers and scientists to detail the desired activities of the chemistry group (process analysis). An action plan was written and was updated every year. The achievements included assisting in the relocation of two technicians and one scientist from Versailles to Grignon and in buying laboratory equipment, a half-day of training on the analysis of organic contaminants in environmental matrices, and writing the description of the environmental platform for the “Observatoire de l’Environnement, de l’Agroécosystème et des Territoires” website2 and for Paris-Saclay University. Moreover, in 2016, Marjolaine Deschamps created two mind maps, one detailing the activities and career interests of each technician and engineer based on their activity reports and other listing chemistry activities and the associated equipment, needs regarding competence and new equipment. With the approval of the management team of ECOSYS, the comparative evaluation of both mind maps led to (i) new activities for 3 technicians and one engineer; (ii) the identification of recruitment profiles; and (iii) a list of equipment to be acquired or renewed.