Laboratories
Contents
- Chromatography Laboratory
- Environmental Analytical Research and Carbon Laboratories
- Fibre Measurement Laboratory
- X-ray Laboratory
- Land Use, Planning & Management Laboratory
- Limnological Equipment & Laboratory
- Meat Science Laboratory
- Ecology Laboratories
- Plant & Soil Laboratories
- Wildlife Resources Laboratory
- Water Resources Laboratory
Chromatography Laboratory
The Chromatography Laboratory is equipped to carry out analysis of volatile organics utilising either Gas Chromatography for routine analyses or Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for identification of unknowns.
The facility also has a dedicated Gas Chromatograph for analysis of gas samples. High Pressure Liquid Chromatography facilities are available for determination of known non-volatiles. Associated facilities include solvent extraction, steam distillation and vacuum extraction.
Environmental Analytical Research and Carbon Laboratories
The Laboratories are equipped to carry out a wide range of cation, anion and total elemental analyses on environmental, agricultural, geological and archaeological samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrosopy, CNS Mass Spectroscopy, Near Infra Red Spectrophotometry, Ion Chromatography, and other methods.
This facility provides chemical analytical services at subsidised rates to students and staff from all Schools for UNE teaching and research activities.
Services are also provided to outside clients at competitive commercial rates.
Fibre Measurement Laboratory
The Fibre Measurement Laboratory is a controlled atmosphere laboratory to condition fibre samples to 20°C and 65% RH prior to measurement. These tests include:
Agritest Staple Breaker (Model 2)
A semi-automatic machine for the measurement of the staple length and strength of greasy wool staples with statistical analysis of results and printed test report.
OFDA-1—(Optical-Based Fibre Diameter Analyser)
Measures 2 mm scoured fibre snippets including wool, cashmere, mohair, alpaca and some synthetic fibres. The OFDA-100 histogram data printout includes: mean fibre diameter, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, prickle factor and spinning fineness.
Contact:
Neil Baillie
P: +61 2 6773 3241
E: nbaillie@une.edu.au
X-ray Laboratory
The x-ray laboratory is operated by David Keith and includes an automated Philips X-ray diffractometer. This facility is available for commercial service.
For enquiries and services please contact:
David Keith
P: +61 2 6773 2900
E: geology@une.edu.au
Paul Ashley
P: +61 2 6773 2348
E: pashley@une.edu.au
Land Use, Planning & Management Laboratory
The laboratory has 45 research-quality mirror stereoscopes for aerial photographic interpretation, a small air photo library of NE NSW, and a topographic map collection.
Limnological Equipment & Laboratory
The laboratory is equipped with a variety of oxygen, pH and conductivity meters, water sampling bottles and sampling equipment, Ekman grab, multi-channel temperature recorders, research-quality compound and dissecting microscopes with fibre-optic cold-light illuminators, portable analytical balance, and access to a range of different sized boats. Specialist sampling equipment includes freeze corers and box samplers.
Contact:
Mr Paul Lisle
P: +61 2 6773 5220
E: alisle2@une.edu.au
Meat Science Laboratory
The Meat Science laboratories are equipped with the facilities to conduct research ranging from determining gross carcass composition to quantification of (bio-)chemical factors determining meat quality traits. To this end, the laboratories are equipped with the space, chilling and freezing capacity and equipment to evaluate samples ranging from whole carcasses to tissue samples. Equipment related to meat and carcass quality assessment include: a band saw, cutting tables, scales and a vacuum packer for determination of carcass quality traits, a texture analyser, colour meters, pH meters, freeze dryer etc. for determination of meat quality traits and a chromatography system, spectrophotometer, electrophoresis system, centrifuges and microscopes for the assessment of (bio)-chemical and physical traits determining meat quality.
Contact:
Email: Peter.McGilchrist@une.edu.au
Ecology Laboratories
Equipped with a range of equipment including incubators, ovens, refrigerators, balances, microscopes (including some of research standard with fibre-optic cold-light source), portable field based automatic weather station, light and radiation meters, specimen storage facilities etc.
Plant & Soil Laboratories
Equipment includes germination cabinets, incubators, drying ovens, balances, refrigerators, pH and conductivity meters, EM38 conductivity meter for measuring apparent soil salinity, neutron moisture probe, field sampling equipment including soil and forest mensuration kits, and preparation areas for sample analyses.
Wildlife Resources Laboratory
Houses specimen collections of Australian fauna, preparation rooms, teaching and research laboratories, field observation equipment including radio tracking devices, motion detection cameras, bat detectors, trapping and spotlighting equipment, field glasses, dietary analysis facilities, walk-in refrigerator and deep freezers etc.
Water Resources Laboratory
This facility provides chemical analyses of soil, rock, plant and animal samples with an automated atomic absorption spectrophotometer, auto-analyser, UV/ UIS spectrophotometer, drying ovens, incubators, centrifuges, autoclaves, muffle furnace, balances, distillation units etc.
Contact:
