MacMillan Equipment
ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer
The JY2000 Ultrace ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometer is equipped with a JY AS 421 autosampler and 2400g/mm holographic grating. It runs on JY Windows software, which operates under Windows 95/98/NT systems . Elemental analysis can be done in gaussian scanning or direct peaking modes, and analysis times can be equal to or faster than a simultaneous spectrometer. The Ultrace spectrometer has a range of 160-800nm, and analyses can be performed on up to 176 samples in a typical run.
Perkin Elmer Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
The AA spectrometer in MacMillan Hall is a Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 600, which uses a THGA Graphite furnace as a heat source. The temperature is controlled so that the sample is dried, ashed, and atomized, after which the atomic vapor fills a tube, through which light is passed. Some of this light is absorbed, and identification and concentrations of the sample is determined from the absorption spectrum. This spectrometer is useful for measuring trace levels of metals in water and soil.
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GFAAS Protocol
Dionex DX500 Liquid Chromotography System
The Dionex DX500 modular system is equipped for both ion chromatography and HPLC analysis. The setup for ion chromatography includes column sets for separate analysis of anions (fluoride, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate) and cations (lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium). The modular system includes an AS40 autosampler, a GP50 gradient pump, and a CD20 conductivity detector for rapid analysis of ions in marine and freshwater samples, as well as leached extracts or sediment and plant digestions. The HPLC system will be primarily used for analysis of chlorophyll and chlorins (chlorophyll degredation products) in water and sediment samples. This system is on a separate channel module equipped with a C18 Vydac column linked to UV/Vis and spectrofluorometric detectors. The Dionex system includes the PeakNet 6.0 software program, which facilitates instrument control, sample analysis, data processing, reporting, and documentation.
Carbon-Nitrogen Elemental Analyzer
The CE Instruments Model NC2100 elemental analyzer is used to measure carbon and nitrogen content of samples. Our system consists of a base unit, an AS12 Autoloader, and two 32-position carousels. Samples are converted to gas via dynamic flash combustion, moved through oxidation-reduction reactors and an H2O absorptive trap, swept through a GC column where they are separated and subsequently detected by a thermal conductivity detector. Depending on how the sample is prepared, the analyzer is routinely used to determine the organic carbon, total carbon, and nitrogen content of sediment and plant material.
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Carbon-Nitrogen Elemental Analyzer Protocol
Template (leaves) • Template (soils)
X-Ray Spectrometer
X-ray spectrometers can be used to identify and quantify the elemental composition of solids, powders, and liquids. Macmillan Hall houses a Phillips PW1480 wavelength dispersive sequential diffractometer with a PW1510 30-cup sample changer. This system is used mainly for chemical analysis of sediment (sample sizes >5 g), prepared as either pressed powders or fused discs. The spectrometer is equipped with a rhodium side window x-ray tube and a 5-position crystal changer with a crystal configuration for standard major and minor elemental analysis. The spectrometer is controlled by Philips X40 4i software and the general data reduction is done by UniQuant 5 software.
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XRF Data Reduction Using UniQuant
Preparing Samples for XRF Analysis – Pressed Pellets
Startup and Shutdown Instructions
ETHOS 1600 Microwave Digestion Labstation
MacMillan Hall houses a Milestone ETHOS 1600 Microwave Digestion Labstation. This advanced dual magnetron lab station performs digestion and evaporation procedures to prepare samples for AA, ICP, and ICP-MS analysis. Total digestion of up to twelve samples requires only 15-20 minutes. This ETHOS 1600 Labstation features magnetic stirring, built-in exhaust, and an MD Rotor 1000/6. This high-pressure 6-vessel rotor operates at a maximum pressure of 110 bar (1595 psi) and a maximum temperature 240°C. The system is controlled by EasyWave software.
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Organic Matter Digestion Protocol
Total Digestion Protocol
Total Digestion with 3-Position, 6 ml Vessel Inserts
Dust Wipe Digestion Protocol
Freeze Dryer
MacMillan Hall houses a LABCONCO FreeZone 6 Liter Freeze Dry System for removing water and other solvents from frozen samples by sublimation.
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Freeze Drying Instructions
Spectronic 601 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer
This UV/VIS spectrophotometer measures absorption or transmission at a fixed wavelength with a range of 195 to 999 nm. It is used for nutrient analyses, and primarily for Si concentrations in wet chemical extracts from sediment samples (i.e. biogenic opal concentrations). It can handle standard 1 cm pathlength cuvettes and A MR Sipper peristaltic pump is attached to this spectrophotometer for rapid sample analysis.
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Spectrophotometer Instructions
Opaline Silica Extraction Method
Biogenic Silica Analysis
UIC, INC Inorganic Carbon Analyzer
The UIC, Inc. CM240 TIC Analyzer is capable of measuring total inorganic carbon in a wide variety of sample matrices. It combines the CM5240 automated sample acidification sample introduction system with the CM5014 Coulometer. Solid samples ranging from low ppm to 100% inorganic carbon can be analyzed with this system.
PICARRO L1102-I ISOTOPIC WATER LIQUID ANALYZER
The Picarro L1102-i Isotopic Water Liquid Analyzer measures delta D/H and delta 18O/16O in liquid water using Wavelength-Scanned Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to scan the absorption lines unique to H216O, H218O, and HD16O, providing 18O and D in one rapid measurement. This entails the time based measurement of tunable laser light, the decay of which (during ring down) depends on the absolute concentration of the various isotopes. The measurements are precise and accurate, comparable to, or better than isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Small sample size, rapid analyses and the ability to measure samples with a large range of salinities (from fresh to full ocean water) add to the utility of the analyzer. ChemCorrect (Picarro) software enables the determination of type and magnitude of potential organic contaminants. Up to 90 samples can be measured in one analytical run, over two days time.