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Central Analytical Facility

Central Analytical Facility

The Central Analytical Facility in the Geology Department houses state of the art analytical equipment. The lab has two class 100 hoods and three fume hoods. There is an adjacent room for cleaning labware, with ample closets and hoods for acid baths, as well as a constant source of 18 MW water. Also just off the facility is a weigh room with analytical balances for preparing standards.

Dionex ion chromatographs

There are two Dionex ion chromatographs: a 4010I series and a 300 series. Both are equipped with autosamplers for overnight operation. One is dedicated to anion detection (F,Cl, PO4, NO3, SO4, and C2O4), while the other is reserved for cations (Li, NH4, Na, Mg, K, and Ca).

Leeman Plasma III Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer

The Leeman Plasma III Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer has single, sequential and simultaneous capabilities. In simultaneous mode, it can analyze over 20 elements in less than 2 minutes. Depending upon the element, the analytical range is from the very low ppb range through the ppm range.

Perkin-Elmer 560 Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer

The Perkin-Elmer 560 Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer provides an easy inexpensive method for looking at selected elements. In conjunction with the Varian 400Z Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, a wide range of concentrations and matrices can be analyzed.

Perkin-Elmer Elan 6000 Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometer

The newest addition to the lab is the Perkin-Elmer Elan 6000 Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometer. With detection limits from the low ppt range through the ppm range for practically the entire periodic table, this instrument has broad capabilities. On order is a Phillips PW2400 X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer system. This will enable the lab to directly analyze soils.