Elemental and isotopic microanalysis of environmental tracers
Element and Heavy Isotope Analytical Laboratories at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER).
Trace and ultra-trace elemental and high precision isotopic laser ablation microanalysis of geologic, biologic, and environmental media to characterize metal cycling in natural, aqueous systems, and resulting from anthropogenic influences.
Laser ablation microsampling, high sensitivity elemental analysis, high precision isotopic analysis, solution nebulization analysis, solid and liquid sample preparation, direct mercury analysis, microwave digestion, infrared/ultraviolet/visible microscopy and image analysis, confocal Raman spectroscopic and atomic force microscopic analysis, microthermometric analysis
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Manufacturing and processing
- Mining, minerals and metals
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Elemental and Heavy Isotope Analysis | Agilent 7900 quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer with collision cell | Ultra-high sensitivity elemental analysis |
| Thermo Neptune multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer with pump and interface upgrades | High precision and high sensitivity isotopic ratio measurement | |
| Agilent 720 inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer | High sensitivity elemental analysis | |
| Laser Ablation Microsampling | PhotonMachines Analyte Excite 2 193 nm, short pulse width (< 4 ns) excimer laser ablation system with HelEx sampling cell | Laser ablation microsampling |
| PhotonMachines Analyte.fs2 266 nm, femtosecond (< 130 fs) laser ablation system with HelEx sampling cell | Laser ablation microsampling | |
| Direct Mercury Analysis | Milestone DMA-80 Direct Mercury Analyzer | Rapid, direct analysis of mercury in solid samples (e.g., tissues) |
| Fluid Inclusion and Image Analysis | Olympus BX-51/61 microscopes (3) with transmitted, reflected, UV/VIS/IR, image analysis and Linkam thermo/cryo stages | Long (to 2200 nm) wavelength infrared imaging for non-transparent materials (e.g., chitinous shells, sulphide minerals) |
| Laser Ablation Sample Preparation | Logitech sample (diamond disc and wire saw, polishing and lapping equipment) preparation | Sample preparation facility for laser ablation of delicate geologic, biologic and environmental materials |
| Microwave Sample Digestion | CEM Microwave Accelerated Reaction System (MARS) 5 microwave digester | 12-place sample holder |
| Ultratrace Clean Lab | Fully equipped, HEPA-filtered Clean Lab facilities | Full suite of clean (Class 1000 and better) lab facilities for sample preparation |
Private and public sector research partners
- Auburn University
- Western University
- McGill University
- Ohio State University
- Bowling Green State University
- University of Vermont
- Thermo Scientific Inc.
- Photon-Machines Inc.
- Isomass Scientific Inc.
Additional information
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| $6.7 million given to U of W researchers to study Great Lakes (Windsor Star - May 24, 2013) | http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/05/24/6-7-million-given-to-u-of-w-researchers-to-study-great-lake… |
| Fish Bones, Lasers and Heavy Metals: Tales of Environmental Exposure | http://windsorstar.com/news/scientist-to-dicuss-study-of-pollutants-in-fish-ear-bones |
| Testing sewage to see community infection levels | https://www.innovation.ca/story/testing-sewage-see-community-infection-levels |