Provides research and analytical testing services for material and environmental samples to the UNBC and Northern BC communities and beyond.
The Northern Analytical Laboratory Services (NALS) is home to an extensive suite of analytical science instrumentation including but not limited to XRD, XRF, TGA, DSC, DMA, SEM, HPL-MS, CG-MS, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, CNHS analyzer, IC, Particle size analyzers, BET,IR-MS, FTIR, NMR, that enables a broad spectrum of material, environmental, biological, chemical and physical analyses. These services are available to the UNBC researchers, private, public and non-profit sectors to help meet their testing, and research/development needs.
The Northern Analytical Laboratory Services (NALS) provides R&D testing services in different areas including but not limited to soil, minerals, sediments, catalysts, adsorbents, water and waste water, air pollution.
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Chemical industries
- Clean technology
- Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
- Education
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Manufacturing and processing
- Mining, minerals and metals
- Ocean industries
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized facility | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Material Testing Lab | XRD | X-ray Diffraction mineral/material /soil analysis |
| XRF | X-Ray Fluoresce mineral/material/soil analysis | |
| TGA | Thermogravimetric analysis | |
| DSC | Differential scanning calorimetry | |
| DMA | Differential mechanical analysis | |
| BET | Surface area and pore size analysis | |
| Master sizer | Particle size analysis | |
| SEM | Scanning electron microscope, morphology analysis | |
| Combustion elemental analyzers (EA) | C, N, S, H elemental analysis | |
| FTIR | Fourier transform infrared spectrometer | |
| NMR | Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis | |
| Environmental testing lab | ICP-OES | Elemental analysis |
| ICP-MS | Trace elemental analysis | |
| IC | Ion-exchange chromatography, Anion measurement | |
| GC-FID/MS | Gas chromatography | |
| HPLC-MS | High performance liquid chromatography | |
| LA-ICP-MS | Lase ablation ICP-MS | |
| TOC/TIC | Total organic / total inorganic analyzer | |
|
Isotopic ratio mass spectrometer (IR-MS)
|
13C/12C, 15N/14N, and 18O/16O, 34S/32S
|
|
| IDEXX Bacteriological testing |
E. coli and total coliform in water
|
Private and public sector research partners
- University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO)
- Thompson Rivers University (TRU)
- University of Havana, Cuba
- Canadian Zeolite Company (CZC)
- CANFOR Pulp and Paper
- UNBC Wood Innovation Research Lab (WIRL)