Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability (COSS)

Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatograph with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-QTOFMS)

The QTOF is equipped with 3 different ion sources, electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) to enable a wide variety of samples to be analyzed. The UHPLC enables the separation of components in complex mixtures.

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-TOF)

Capabilities include characterization of homopolymer and copolymer molecular weight distributions, composition and deconvolution of homopolymer and copolymer mixtures, hydrocarbon analysis quantification and characterization.

X-ray Diffractometer (XRD)

Used for materials characterization such as crystal structure, physical properties of materials and thin film.

Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF)

Capabilities include elemental analysis in different kinds of samples: solids, liquid or powder.

Atomic Force Microscope – Raman (AFM-Raman)

Used to link the molecular information obtained by confocal Raman microscopy with the high-resolution surface information (structural and topographic surface imaging on the nanometer scale) acquired by AFM.

Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA)

Utilized for thermal analysis in which physical and chemical properties of materials changes with temperature, such as decomposition, degradation mechanism, thermal stability, oxidation, combustion.

UV–Vis Spectrophotometer

Analyze a variety of samples by conventional spectroscopy but advanced techniques can be implemented using the fibre optic accessory

Bruker Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR)

FTIR with fixed path; attenuated reflectance and diffuse reflectance cells for the analysis of wide variety of organic compounds, films and powders. Measurement of naphthenic acid content in process affected waters.

Anton Paar SVM 3000 Viscometer

Used to measure the dynamic viscosity and density of oily samples and is equipped with a 48-position auto-sampler

Capillary Suction Timer

Capillary Suction Time (CST) is a commonly used method to measure the filterability and the easiness of removing moisture from slurry and sludge in numerous environmental and industrial applications.

Dissolved and Total Organic/Inorganic Carbon Analyzer (DOC/TOC)

Measures the amount of dissolved or total organic/inorganic carbon present in a liquid or water sample.

Gas Chromatograph (GC)

Four units specializing in sulfur, methane, and simulated distillation gas chromatography (GC):

•    Sulfur GC: Conduct detailed sulfur analysis. Capable of delivering quantitative sulfur results for light hydrocarbon matrices.
•    Simulated Distillation (SIMDIST) GC : Conduct simulated distillation on crude oil samples.
•    GC: General chromatography capabilities for hydrocarbon samples.
•    Greenhouse Gas (GHG) GC : Test samples for greenhouse gases.

Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS)

Perform investigative chemistry work using mass spectroscopy. Able to identify samples with unknown constituents using mass spectroscopy.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) System

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy is an analytical technique used for the detection of chemical elements.

Ion Chromatography (IC) System

Ion chromatography is a method for separating ions based upon their interactions with resin (stationary phase) and the eluent (mobile phase). Used for measuring major anions and cations in process affected waters.

Karl Fischer Titrator

Titration method in chemical analysis that uses coulometric or volumetric titration to determine trace amounts of water in a sample.

CHNS Organic Elemental Analyzer (OEA)

Determination of organic elements – Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfur (CHNS) – by combustion and Oxygen by pyrolysis.

Specific Resistance to Filtration (SRF) apparatus

Used extensively as a measure of dewaterability.

BET Surface Area Analyzer

Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Measure surface area of particles.

Benchmark S Heated Oil Centrifuge 

Designed for determining basic sediment and water (BS&W) content in crude oil or refined petroleum products on benchtops at indoor locations without Class I, Division 2 requirements. Fully insulated to prevent heat loss and allow for more accurate temperature control.