What the facility does
Research on repurposing organic waste into value-added bioproducts.
Areas of expertise
The research team at the Atlantic Zero-Emission Energy System Laboratory has extensive research experience and expertise in clean and sustainable fuels and materials, including hydrogen, syngas, drop-in fuels, and CO2 bio-adsorbents to replace those traditionally produced from fossil fuels.
The laboratory is equipped with different types of reactors including tube furnace, hydrothermal reactor, microwave synthesis reactor, and photochemical reactor, various analytical instruments for characterizing solid, liquid, and gas samples, as well as electrochemical workstation.
Research services
Analytical services:
- Measure chemical composition of samples (GC/MS/FID)
- Quantify H2, O2, N2, and C1-2 gases (Micro-GC)
- Determine thermal degradation characteristics of samples (TGA)
- Determine surface functionality of samples (FTIR)
- Conduct gas evolution analysis of samples (TGA-IR Hyphenation)
- Characterize the absorption of UV and visible light of samples (UV-vis spectrophotometer)
- Measure specific surface area, total pore volume, average pore diameter, and pore size distribution of samples (BET)
- Determine elemental composition of samples (CHNS)
- Measure higher heating value of samples (bomb calorimeter)
Reactor services:
- Conduct hydrothermal reaction (100 mL and 1 L HT/HP Parr reactor)
- Materials synthesis using microwave heating (microwave synthesis reactor)
- Carry out materials modification/activation (tube furnace)
- Carry out chemical reactions using UV light to drive the reactions (photochemical reactor)
Sectors of application
- Chemical industries
- Clean technology
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Forestry and forest-based industries
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Agilent 8890/5977C Series Gas Chromatograph/Mass Selective Detector (GC/MSD) with Flame Ionization Detector (FID) | Separate, identify, and quantify chemical compounds in a sample mixture. |
| Microtrac BELSORP MINI X BET Specific Surface Area and Pore Size Analyzer (3 ports) | Measure specific surface area, total pore volume, average pore diameter, and pore size distribution. |
| PerkinElmer TGA 4000 Thermogravimetric Analyzer | Measure thermal degradation properties, with temperature control up to 900 ℃. |
| PerkinElmer Spectrum Two FTIR/Sp10 Spectrometer | Analyze the chemical composition of materials using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Surface functionality (determine the functional groups present at the surface of a material). Can be connected to the PerkinElmer TGA 4000 by hyphenation transfer line to conduct gas evolution analysis. |
| VWR V-1200 Visible Spectrophotometer | Measure the amount of UV and visible light absorbed by a sample. |
| Parr 4598 HP/HT Micro Stirred Reactor | High-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) reactor to conduct hydrothermal reaction; can be used up to 500 ℃. |
| Across International TFM3 Tube furnace | Conduct thermal treatment; 3 heating zones; can be used up to 1200 ℃. |
| Thermo Scientific FLASH 2000 CHNS/O Analyzer | Measure elemental composition of sample: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and oxygen (O). |
| Parr 6100 Compensated Calorimeter (Bomb Calorimeter) | Measure the higher heating value of sample. |
| PerkinElmer Clarus 590 Gas Chromatograph | Quantify hydrogen (H2), oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), and the mixture of methane and ethane (C1-2). |
Private and public sector research partners
- RE-FUEL Renewable Fuels Inc.
- AKA Energy Systems
Additional information
| Title | URL/Hyperlink |
|---|---|
| Enhancing photocatalytic water splitting for H2 production over Znln2S4 photocatalysts by forming heterostructure (Green H2 production) | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10562-025-05045-1 |
| Enhancing solar energy-driven photocatalytic water splitting reaction over Znln2S4 by N doping (Green H2 production) | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10562-025-04950-9 |
| Study of KOH-activated hydrochar for CO2 adsorption (synthesis of engineered biocarbon materials for CO2 capture) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1226086X24005458 |
| Effects of potassium salt on cellulose pyrolysis: biochar production, kinetic triplet, and thermodynamic properties (fundamental studies of biomass thermal degradation) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0009250925006104 |
| UPEI researcher hopes to extract lithium from the sea | https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/upei-researcher-hopes-to-extract-lithium-from-the-sea-101001695 |