Specialized environmental analytical services, including method development, chemical analyses, research and training
The Trent Water Quality Centre is a state-of-the-art mass spectrometry (MS) laboratory that specializes in method development and the application of new and innovative techniques for measuring isotopes and trace amounts of organic and inorganic contaminants in water, biological material, sediments, soils, fly ash, municipal waste waters, industrial by-products and process waters.
Analysis of trace elements (e.g. As, Fe, Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, U, REEs) in water and solids by ICP-MS; stable and radiogenic isotope ratios (e.g. Si, Sr, Hg, U,Pb, Zn) by multicollector ICP-MS; organic contaminants (e.g. estrogens, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, PFOA, PFOS, opioids) by LC-MS; biological metabolites by LC-MS and FT-ICR MS; stable isotope analysis (13C,15N, 18O, 2H) by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS); compound-specific isotope analysis using GC-CF-IRMS.
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Chemical industries
- Clean technology
- Defence and security industries
- Education
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Manufacturing and processing
- Mining, minerals and metals
- Utilities
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized facility | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| High-Precision Isotope Ratio Instrumentation | Nu Instruments Nu Plasma-2 | A high-resolution multi-collector ICP-MS for high precision (RSD <0.001%) isotope ratios of metals, for e.g. Cd, Pb, Fe, Zn |
| High-Precision Isotope Ratio Instrumentation | Nu Instruments Nu 1700 | A large scale high-resolution multi-collector ICP-MS, offering a no-compromise approach to achieve high mass resolution |
| High-Precision Isotope Ratio Instrumentation | Nu Horizon Continuous Flow-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (CF-IRMS) | For the analysis of δ13C and δ15N as well as %C and %N in all types of solid samples |
| High-Sensitivity Elemental and Speciation Instrumentation | Nu AttoM HR-ICP-MS | A high-resolution magnetic sector ICP-MS used to analyze ultra-trace-level abundances (ppt and lower) of metals |
| High-Sensitivity Elemental and Speciation Instrumentation | Thermo XSeries-2 ICP-MS | A quadrupole ICP-MS with collision cell technology that is particularly useful for the detection of transition metals |
| High-Sensitivity Elemental and Speciation Instrumentation | Agilent 8800 ICP-QQQ-MS | Capable of MS/MS, gives exact control over reactions in the collision/reaction cell; superior resolution of interferences |
| High-Sensitivity Elemental and Speciation Instrumentation | Teledyne Leeman Prodigy-7 ICP-OES | Next generation dual-view optical ICP spectrometer used for elemental detection of concentrations ranging from ppb to % |
| Organic and Organo-Metallic Molecular Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation | Thermo QExactive Hybrid Orbitrap-Ion Trap HR LC-MS/MS | For quantitative/qualitative applications with a resolving power of 140K and mass accuracy of <1 ppm |
| Organic and Organo-Metallic Molecular Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation | AB Sciex 5500 QTrap LC-MS/MS | A hybrid triple quadrupole linear ion trap used for quantitation of trace organic contaminants and targeted metabolomics |
| Organic and Organo-Metallic Molecular Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation | Bruker SolariX-XR FTICR | Combines extreme resolution (up to 106) and <1 ppm mass accuracy to determine empirical formulas of unknowns in samples |
| Organic and Organo-Metallic Molecular Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation | Thermo ISQ GC-MS | A gas chromatography-single quadrupole mass spectrometer for the analysis of semi-volatile and volatile analytes |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | Dionex solvent extractor | |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | Sartorius SE2 microbalance | |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | Brooks Rand MeHg analyzer | |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | DSL sub-boiling stills (2) | |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | Ethos microwave extraction system | |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | APEX and ARIDUS desolvators | |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | Ion chromatography (IC) | |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | Liquid chromatography (HPLC) | |
| Preparatory and Separation Instrumentation | Hydride generation (HG) |
Private and public sector research partners
- Cameco Corp.
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)