Please note that we do not offer testing services.

Under some circumstances users may be able to use our facilities to do their own analyses.

For all inquiries about these analyses, please contact Dr T. McGonigle.

Elemental Analysis

Spectrometer 715-ES ICP OES Varian Canada

We use Spectrometer, 715-ES Radial ICP OES, Varian, Canada, with Automatic Sample Preparation System SPS-3 AutoSampler  for this analysis. Samples are introduced in liquid form. Many elements (up to 70 in theory) can be determined simultaneously in a single sample analysis. Currently, such elements as Ca, K, Na, Mg, P, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mo and S have been determined in water, soil extracts, and digested samples, and Cd, Co, Ni, Sr, B, Y, Rb, Ni, Al, As, Ba, Cr, Pb, Se and other elements can be determined as well. In this plasma emission spectroscopy (OES), a sample solution is introduced into the core of inductively coupled argon plasma (ICP), which generates temperature of approximately 8000^oC. At this temperature all elements become thermally excited and emit light which is collected by the spectrometer, converted to an elemental concentration by comparison with calibration standards.

Total Organic Carbon Analysis

TOC-V cph System Shimadzu Mandel Canada

TOC System, Shimadzu TOC-Vcph, Mandel, Canada is used for this analysis and it measures amount of total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), total organic carbon (TOC), purgeable organic carbon (POC), and total water-borne nitrogen (TN) in water and in liquid form of various samples. TOC can be measured using the following 3 methods: TC-IC Method, recommended for samples that contain less IC than TOC; NPOC Method, recommended for samples that contain more IC (exceeding 5 ppm) than TOC; and POC+NPOC Method, for samples that contain volatile organic carbon compounds. Sample is introduced into the TC combustion tube, which is filled with an oxidation catalyst and heated to 680^oC and burned, as a result, the TC components in the sample are converted to carbon dioxide. The carrier gas finally delivers the combustion products to the cell of a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas analyzer, where the carbon dioxide is detected.

Carbon and Nitrogen Analysis

CN Determinator System TruSpec-CN LECO

We use Determinator System, TruSpec-CN Elemental, LECO Instruments, USA, which determines Carbon and Nitrogen  content of a variety of materials, including foods, feeds, oilseeds, fertilizers, meats, soils, and plants. Sample is introduced in solid form; ground to 0.5 mm to 2 mm particle size is    recommended. Sample is introduced and purged, flushed with oxygen for very rapid combustion in a hot furnace (950^oC). The combustion gases are collected in a vessel purged through the CO₂ infrared detector and carbon is measured. After removing CO₂ and water, thermal conductivity cell is used to determine the nitrogen content.

Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Phosphate and Chloride Analysis

Analyzer, Astoria2 with 311 AutoSampler, Astoria-Pacific International, USA can determine nitrite nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, total kjeldahl nitrogen, nitrate+nitrite nitrogen, total phosphorus, ortho-phosphate, and chloride in drinking, surface and saline waters, domestic and industrial wastes, plants, and soils. Samples are introduced in liquid form. The system is based on Segmented Continuous Flow Theory. Samples are aspirated sequentially combined with chemistry specific reagents and diluents, dialyzed, heated or subjected to other specific conditions necessary for the desired chemical reaction to occur, which usually results in the development of a colored complex. As the reagent stream passes through a flow-through cuvette, the detector takes absorbance measurements and converts them to electronic signals. Determination of analyte concentrations is based on the comparison of peak height and known calibration standards.

Microscopic Analysis

Microscope System, BX51 Microscope, EXFO X-Cite Light Source, OptiScan II Prior, Olympus Canada, QCapture Pro, Image-Pro Plus Version 6.0, Reflected Fluorescence System and Microscope System, MVX10 Microscope, EXFO X-Cite Light Source, NCL 150, Olympus Canada, Image-Pro Plus Version 6.0, Reflected Fluorescence System are used for this purpose.

Pollen  Analysis: Environmental samples such as plant, soil, leaf litter, fossil deposits, paleobotanical and archeological materials can be examined  microscopically and using the image analysis software determined pollen and spores and identified by comparing with reference materials.

Density and Concentration Analysis

UV Visible Spectrophotometer Sipper Ultrospec 3100 Pro Fisher

On this Spectrophotometer with Sipper, proteins, aminoacids, nucleic acids in biological materials can be   quantified and purity checked by measuring absorbance, concentration, and % transmission (in wavelength range 190-890 nm).

Plant Trials, Plant Growth and Botanical Characteristics

growth chamber

All plant trials and experiments can be conducted in our two   Conviron^TM PGV36, controlled environment walk-in growth chambers with CO₂ (ambient to 2990 ppm), temperature (4 – 45^oC) and light control (timed diurnal on/off and irradiance up to 1400 µmoles), with 3.3 m of growing area (2 m height).  In addition, with the Imaging System, Arabidopis System of Regent Instruments, that consists of WinFOLIA for leaf analysis, WinSEEDLE for seeds and conifer needles analysis, and WinRHIZO for root measurement, botanical characteristics, number, area size, and color can be determined. Samples can be plants from the field, greenhouse, or garden, and be in fresh, dried, pressed and herbarium material forms.

For all other basic laboratory measurements we have the recent models of scientific equipments some of which listed below, that produce reliable accurate and precise results.

• Microscope System, SZX10 Microscope, NCL 150, Olympus Canada
• Ultrapure Water System, Millipore (UV/UF) Series 1370
• Centrifuge, Thermo IEC CL30R, Fisher
• Analytical Balance, ED 124S Sartorius, Fisher
• Diluter, MICROLAB 503A Dual Syringe, Hamilton/Fisher
• UltraSonic Cleaner, BRANSON 2510
• Oven, 5.0 cu.ft, Fisher
• Furnace, 1.26 cu.ft, Fisher
• pH-Meter Kit, Accumet Basic AB 15, Fisher