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Clean Laboratory

Lab name:

Clean Laboratory

Staff:

Cora McKenna

Lab technician:

Cora McKenna

Location

Unit 7, Trinity Technology And Enterprise Centre (TTEC), Pearce Street.

Activities supported:

  • ICP-MS ultra-trace element preparation:
    • Low temperature leaching using HNO3
    • High temperature digestion using HF-HNO3,
    • High temperature and pressure “Parr bomb” digestion using HF-HNO3
    • Sample dilution and spiking using precision balances
  • Ion exchange chromatography

Equipment:

  • Custom built CSC Hybrid Fume Hood – Laminar Flow Cabinet with HEPA filtered clean air, laminar flow, down flow and containment features (x2).
  • Telstar AV-30/70 Bench Top HEPA filtered cabinet
  • Vented chemical storage for HF, HNO3, HCl and HBr
  • Analab EasyDigest hotplate with heating blocks for even heating of digestion vessels.
  • Analab MiniVesselCleaner for pre-leaching of consumable plastic ware.
  • Analab 3-arm CleanAcids acid distillation system for triple distilling HF.
  • Bespoke quartz glass acid distillation system for triple distilling HNO3 and HCl.
  • Millipore Milli-Q Integral 3 water purification system
  • Satorius and Ohaus analytical balances
  • 29ml and 7ml PTFE beakers for high temperature sample digestion.
  • Parr Bombs acid digestion vessels with PTFE inserts for high pressure and high temperature sample digestion.

Note:

Solid samples must already be milled and homogenised using agate prior to booking time for ICP-MS preparation. Tungsten-carbide and steel inserts should not be used in the milling process. The rock preparation facilities in Unit 36B are available for all pre-processing of solid samples.

Lab publications:

Babechuk, M.G., Widdowson, M., Murphy, M., Kamber, B.S., 2015. A combined Y/Ho, high field strength element (HFSE) and Nd isotope perspective on basalt weathering, Deccan Traps, India. Chemical Geology, 396: 25-41.

Suhr, N., Widdowson, M., McDermott, F., Kamber, B.S., 2018. Th/U and U series systematics of saprolite: importance for the oceanic 234U excess. Geochemical Perspectives Letters, 6: 17-22.