Facilities
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- Bioanalytical Chemistry
- Biogeochemistry Laboratory
- Environmental Engineering Laboratories
- Microbial Ecology Laboratory
- The Weather Lab
Bioanalytical Chemistry
Our laboratory is designed to carry out most biochemical and molecular biological techniques as well as organic synthesis. The laboratory is equipped with super-speed ultra and assorted desktop centrifuges, gel electrophoresis apparatus, a protein sequencer and a variety of incubation modules for mammalian and bacterial culturing. The laboratory has three UV-VIS spectrophotometers, and FT-IR spectrophotometer and a scanning Fluorescent spectrophotometer. There are three HPLCs equipped with UV-VIS, Fluorescent, diode array UV-VIS and Refractive Index detectors and a HR-GC with flame ionization and thermal conductivity detectors. For high through-put analysis we have a fluorescent microtiter plate reader and a UV-VIS microtiter plate reader with the associated multiple pipettors and plate washers. There is a cold room associated with the laboratory as well as a radiation laboratory equipped with a BioGamma and Scintillation Counter and a Rayonette Photolysis apparatus. Associated with our laboratory we have access to a 200, 250 and 500 MHz NMR as well as a gamma cave in the nuclear reactor.
Biogeochemistry Laboratory
The Biogeochemistry Laboratory in Olsen Hall is equipped for analyses of aquatic and terrestrial samples, especially rate measurements of bacterial processes, trace gases and solutes in fresh and marine waters. The facility contains a separate radioisotope tracer facility. The main laboratory contains a gas chromatograph with a flame photometric detector (FPD) and a flame ionization detector (FID) for determining volatile sulfur gases and organic compounds, a gas chromatograph with a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) for various gases, a gas chromatograph with an FPD and an electron capture detector (ECD) for measurements of volatile halide species, an automated ion chromatograph for determining anion concentrations in aquatic samples including low molecular weight organic acids. Gas generators provide air and hydrogen for the gas chromatographs. The laboratory also contains an diode array UV/VIS system, microcentrifuge, a floor model refrigerated centrifuge, pH meters, electrophoresis units with a photographic system, a slot blotter, balances, microwave oven, drying ovens, large incubator, and several water baths including shaking and refrigerated models. The radioisotope facility is equipped with a radioactive gas analyzer system connected to a gas chromatograph for measurements of radiolabeled gases and an ion chromatographic system for separation of radiolabeled solutes.
Environmental Engineering Laboratories
The Environmental Engineering Laboratories consist of: the Graduate Environmental Engineering Laboratory, the Geoenvironmental Engineering Laboratory and the Undergraduate Environmental Engineering Laboratory. The equipment contained within these laboratories is used to support research and teaching in the areas of soil and ground water remediation, water treatment and biological wastewater treatment. Research projects are focusing on (1) physical, chemical and biological soil remediation technology development such as: soil vapor extraction (SVE), in situ air sparging (IAS), electro kinetics (EK), surfactant enhanced soil flushing, bioremediation, and in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO), and (2) biological wastewater treatment.
Analysis of metals is accomplished using a Perkin Elmer model 3030B Atomic Absorption (AA) spectrophotometer equipped with a HGA 6000 Graphite Furnace and model AS-60 Auto-Sampler. For the analysis of organics the laboratories contain: one Hewlett Packard (HP) model 5890 gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) and a photo ionization detector (PID), and one HP model 5890 GC equipped with FID and a electron capture detector (ECD). Samples can be introduced using a Tekmar model LSC 2000 Purge and Trap unit or a HP model 19395 Headspace Sampler or a HP model 7673 Autosampler. Chromatography data acquisition and analysis is conducted using Perkin Elmer (PE Nelson Division) Turbochrom software. A laboratory water purification system consisting of a Barnstead ROpure LP (low pressure reverse osmosis system) with NANOpure II water deionization and a 40-liter storage reservoir is used to provide research grade water. A VWR model 1227 Reciprocal Shaker bath is used for temperature controlled kinetic studies.
General laboratory instruments include: Agilent 8453 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer (190-1100nm), two Spectronic model 21D+ spectrophotometers, Spectronic model 20 spectrophotometer, Hach model 2100N Turbidimeter, YSI DO meters, pH meters, specific ion probes and analytical balances.
Microbiological research equipment includes: incubators, autoclaves,
optical microscopes and a video microscope /TV system.
General laboratory equipment includes: Kendro Super T21 tabletop temperature-controlled high-speed centrifuge (up to 45,000 rpm), Damon/ IEC Division CU-5000 centrifuge, COD racks, TKN apparatus, jar stirrers, ovens, muffle furnace, fume hoods and walk-in constant temperature room.
Microbial Ecology Laboratory
The Microbial Ecology Laboratory is equipped with instrumentation for molecular analysis of microbial communities, cultivation of phototrophic and anaerobic organisms, epifluorescent microscopy, and analysis of environmental parameters such as pH, salinity, and inorganic nutrient concentrations. See Microbial Ecology Laboratory for more information.
The Weather Lab
Our Weather Lab is designed for teaching, meteorological exercises and research. The otherwise typical classroom section includes projection capabilities and a smart-board. Large tables serve to make map analysis convenient. Twelve networked workstations provide access to internal and external data sources. Separate computers are used to run mesoscale weather models for research purposes, and to archive various data onto cd-roms. Finally, portable rawinsonde equipment can provide vertical soundings of the atmosphere for both classroom illustration and atmospheric boundary layer research.