Lab facilities and equipment
Our labs in the Chemistry Centre allow for environmental chemistry experiments and trace analysis of contaminants. In addition to our spaces, we frequently use instruments and collaborate with the staff in the Department’s excellent Mass Spectrometry Facility (e.g. Thermo Orbitrap Exploris 240 and Exactive, Sciex API 5000 LC-QqQ, Bruker Scion GC-QqQ) and NMR facility, and collaborate with Professor James Harynuk for GC×GC-MS. We sometimes use the Analytical and Instrumentation Lab and Biological Services, and greatly benefit from the machine shop, glassblower, and stores and receiving.
Triple quadrupole mass spectrometer
With ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (right) and supercritical fluid chromatography (left).
Our Waters Xevo TQ-S Micro with both an ACQUITY I-Class UPLC and ACQUITY UPC2 allows for trace analysis of organic contaminants and is the backbone of our group’s analytical. The UPC2 allows for efficient separation of analytes difficult to analyze with traditional reverse phase chromatography, including very polar contaminants and chiral chemicals prior to electrospray ionization.
Installed in 2025, this instrument was funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund and the Government of Alberta.
Ion Chromatography
Dionex ICS 5000+ equipped with an autosampler, suppressor and conductivity detection with updated software. We analyze fluoride, chloride, and some organic acids (including TFA) in laboratory experiments. The IC is watched over by Charlie Chromeleon!
Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode
Sometimes we prefer to use our fluoride ion selective electrode for quick and simple fluoride measurements.
Deionized water
Our Milli-Q EQ 7000 water system provides continuous supply of 18.2 MΩ-cm water.
HPLC
Waters 2695 HPLC with dual wavelength UV, fluorescence, and electrochemical detectors. We’ve given this workhorse a second life and it produces great data.
Flow tube setup
Our house-built 9L flow tube has an injection port, ozone monitor, and in addition to offline analysis, can be connected to a Thermo EI-GC-MS with a gas sampling valve.
Photoreactor
Our Luzchem LZC photoreactor is used for aquatic photochemistry experiments. We have UVA, UVB and UVC lamps.
Sample preparation
We have standard laboratory equipment including a 24 position nitrogen evaporator, solid phase extraction manifold, vortex mixers, cold storage, and two centrifuges (not pictured).
