Laboratory Facilities

Experimental Equipment

High-temperature pressure vessels

High-temperature titanium and stainless steel pressure vessels allow for hydrothermal experiments at a variety of physical and chemical conditions (up to 500 bar, 500°C). Experiments are typically mineral buffered, but other configurations are possible. Open- and closed-system experiments and rapid sampling and injection methods are available.

gold bag pressure vessel.JPG
Gold bag reaction cell and pressure vessel rated at 500 bar and 450 °C

 

gold bag rocking autoclave
Gold bag rocking autoclave system
Titanium reactor.JPG
Titanium reactor rated at 500 bar and 500°C

 

Ovens
Oven and pumps for titanium pressure vessels

Lower temperature reaction vessels

The lab contains a variety of reaction vessels suitable for lower temperature (< 200°C) experiments at atmospheric or vapor saturated pressure.

Teflon reaction cells
Teflon reaction cells in titanium jackets for cleaner lower temperature experiments.

Microwave digestion equipment

A MARS Ethos Up Microwave Digestion System allows for rapid digestion of solid samples including silicate rocks in preparation for further analysis using liquid-state analytical equipment.

Microwave digestor
Microwave digestion equipment

Analytical Equipment

Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS

The newest addition to our analytical facilities, a Thermo iCap TQ Triple Quadrupole Inductively Couple Plasma Mass Spectrometer (TQ-ICP-MS) helps us to measure trace elements and isotopes in complex matrices. A collision cell with optional He and O2 gases helps eliminate pesky isobaric interferences. The TQ-ICP-MS is equipped with a prepFAST autosampling autodillution system.

TQ-ICP-MS
TQ-ICP-MS

Gas Chromatograph

An Agilent 6890 Gas Chomatograph (GC) enables us to measure samples of gases  (H2, CO2, CH4) served up "on tap" from our experimental equipment.

Gas Chromatograph
Gas Chromatograph

Ion Chromatograph

A Thermo Dionex ICS-5000 Ion Chromatograph (IC) can be used to measure major anions (Cl-, SO42-). Some minor anions  (NO3-, Br-) can also be analyzed. The IC is equipped with an autosampler. 

Ion chromatograph
Ion chromatograph with sample tray

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer

Like a ten-year-old car in Minnesota, the Thermo iCAP 6000 inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) is still going strong thanks to some tender loving care from our lab team. Great for quick analyses of many elements (but not Cl!). The ICP-OES is equipped with an autosampler and in-line internal standard.

ICP-OES
Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer