Our Facilities
Gas Chromatograph SRI 8610C
Single column gas chromatograph with FID/FPD, TCD and HID detectors. Each detector is equipped with full electrometer/amplifier electronics and an adjustable heated zone for maximum detector stability. The column oven is capable of operation from ambient temperature to 400°C, both isothermally, and by temperature programming with unlimited ramps and holds. All GC system gases are EPC-controlled for maximum precision.
Ion Chromatograph DIONEX DX 500
Single column ion chromatograph with an AS40 autosampler, automated injection system, GP50 gradient pump and a mixing valve. The detectors include ED40 electrochemical detector and AD20 absorbance detector. We are equipped with columns for routine cation and anion analysis.
Ion Chromatograph DIONEX 2000i
Single column ion chromatograph with self-regenerating suppressor. With a HPLC pump and two-position actuator it can be permanently connected to a reaction vessel (both high- and low-temperature) to allow for an on-line analysis with external standardization (two separate loops connected through 3-way valves for samples and standards).
Zeta Potential Analyzer BIC ZetaPlus
Quasi-elastic light scattering device functioning as multi-angle particle sizer and zeta potential analyzer. It utilizes a green laser (532 nm) and transmits intensity into two separate detectors at 90° and 15° for particle size and Z.P. analysis, resp. The particle sizer can analyze colloidal particles within a size range of 2 nm to 3 µm ( ± 1 to 2%) for monodisperse samples. Likewise it is capable of measurements within the Z.P. range of −150 to +150 mV for sample sizes ranging from 10 nm to 30 mm with an accuracy of ± 2%.
UV-VIS Spectrophotometer HACH DR/4000 U
Direct reading spectrophotometer with a wavelength range of 190 – 1100 nm. 130 preprogrammed methods. Wavelengths can be specified to 0.1 nm, and with stray light better than 3.3 ABS, 3 ABS samples can be measured accurately. + software
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR) THERMO Nicolet Nexus 670
The spectrometer utilizes both a DTGS and a liquid nitrogen cooled HgCdTe (MCT-A) detector with a moveable mirror for easy exchange between the two. The DTGS detector is capable of detecting within the mid-IR wavelengths from 400 – 4000 cm-1. The MCT-A detector is capable of detecting from 650 – 4000 cm-1.
The lab has several types of FT-IR accessories. We are equipped to do transmission spectroscopy, Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, vertical variable angle Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy, Spectral Reflectance (SR) spectroscopy and Smart Aperture Grazing Angle (SAGA) Spectral Reflectance spectroscopy. The lab has the capability to do both dark flow-through ATR and photochemistry using a custom built photochemical cell.
Raman Spectrometer InPhotonics RS-2000
The instrument has better than 1 cm-1 spectral resolution in a range from 200–3900 cm-1 (Raman shift). Equipped with a raman probe with excitation wavelengths 630–980 nm.
Handheld Fluorometer TURNER DESIGNS Picofluor™ 8000-003
This is a lightweight dual-channel fluorometer for quick fluorescence measurements. Its two dedicated channels enable analysis of samples for two different fluorescent signals (UV and Blue LED excitation). In conjunction with various molecular fluorescent stains (Molecular Probes' PicoGreen®, RiboGreen®, Hoechst 33258 dye) it is commonly used for quick nucleic acid and protein quantitation.
RQflex® 2 Reflectometer - EMD Chemicals
The reflectometer uses Reflectoquant® test strips that are inserted into it. With each test strip comes a barcode stripe that is used to program the test parameters for a specific analyte assay. Used to quantify various ions in water solutions.
UV-VIS Spectrometer OCEAN OPTICS USB2000
The spectrometer connects via USB port to a PC with OOIBase32 Spectrometer Operating Software installed. A 2048-element linear silicon CCD-array detector accepts light energy transmitted through a single-strand optical fiber. The instrument works in a wavelength range of 200–1100 nm. Used for dissolved oxygen quantitation and other analyses.
Glove Boxes
Item description...
Autoclaves
Our equipment for hydrothermal work (up to 275°C) consists of:
- Autoclave Engineers 1L 316 stainless steel stirred autoclave
- 700mL and 100 mL custom-made 6AL4V titanium reaction vessels with clamp furnaces
- several 7-32mL SS and Ti reactors
The reaction vessels can be connected to an ion chromatograph to allow for continuous on-line analysis without disturbing the system inside the vessel.
Nitrogen Gas Generator DH G2110W
Generates continuous flow of high purity nitrogen at flow rate up to 2 L/min and pressure of 5.0 bar. Generated nitrogen contains less than 10 ppm O2. In the lab it is used for creating anoxic atmosphere in long-run prebiotic synthesis and other experiments.
Barnstead EASYpure™ Water Purification System D8611
The device supplies ultra-pure deionized water with resistivities up to 18.3 megohm-cm and < 5 ppb Total Organic Carbon content. Water is filtered several times and treated with UV-light (185 & 254 nm) to oxidize organics to undetectable levels and control bacteria within the system. Flow rate is 800 mL/min and the system has a 6.5 L internal reservoir.
Light Sources
Our laboratory has several light sources for photochemistry:
- 35W deuterium/tungsten lamp (Analytical Light Instruments Inc. DT1000) equipped with optional 200-400 nm ultraviolet output and 400-800 nm visible output
- 1000 Watt Xenon lamp with power source can simulate 12x the luminosity of sunlight. A 1L water-jacketed vessel can be mounted in front of the lamp
- 250W Fiberoptic light source for focused light
- UV lamp in photo-cabinet that can be used with vials in a rotating carousel or lamp inserted in middle of water-jacketed 1L vessel
Automatic Titrators SCHOTT TitroLine Alpha
Programmable volumetric KF titrators - complete systems with pH electrodes. The automatic titrator performs automated Karl Fischer, pH and mV titrations. Titrant can be added after a fixed waiting period or drift-controlled, in linear titration steps or with dynamic adaptation to the curve slope. It connects to Epson printers through a serial cable.
Water Baths FISHER Isotemp 210, 205 and Circulator Isotemp 3006
The water baths are commonly used for conducting experiments at a constant temperature. The temperature range is from ambient to 100°C.
The refrigerating/heating Isotemp 3006 water circulator enables us to supply external systems with a continuous flow of water of preset temperature between −20 and +200°C.
Shakers
Two VWR DS-500 Orbital Shakers and a FISHER Mini Vortexer are in the lab for stirring and shaking our samples. In addition, we successfully use the orbital shakers in conjuction with a set of sieves to sieve crushed minerals and rocks.
Computer equipment consists of 16 PCs running MS Windows and Linux operating systems. All the computers are linked together in a lab network.
Specialty software in the lab includes:
- Geochemist's Workbench v4.0 and EQ3/6 for geochemical modelling
- PeakFit for spectra fittings
- GRAMS AI - spectra manipulation software
- Omnic v5.0 - spectra acquisition and manipulation software
