These analytical facilities at SAMS are available for hire, with or without technical and analytical support. SAMS staff can also provide data-analysis and project management services.

Trace metal analysis using ICP-MS

SAMS owns 2 Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometers: a Thermo Fisher X-series II, and a VG PQ3 Quadrupole. Attached to these are a New Wave 213 nm UV laser-ablation unit for solid-state microanalysis and an auto-sampler for rapid batch analysis of solution samples. Full clean-lab facilities support all analytical instruments.

Analysis: Trace metal concentrations down to parts-per-trillion (ng/g) and stable isotopes such as 206Pb/207Pb and U isotopes. Laser ablation micro-sampling allows measurements on sample spots as small as 20 µm in diameter.

Samples: Analysis of a wide range of sample materials including natural water samples (both fresh and saline), organic tissue, marine sediments, and biogenic carbonates such as otoliths, corals and foraminifera.

Applications: Water quality monitoring, sediment characterisation, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, marine geochemistry and chemical oceanography.

These analytical facilities at SAMS are available for hire, with or without technical and analytical support. SAMS staff can also provide data-analysis and project management services.

Trace metal analysis using ICP-OES

SAMS has a state-of-the-art inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer facility for analysing major to trace elements. Instruments include a PerkinElmer Optima 4300 DV ICP-OES, a dedicated AS93 Plus auto-sampler, and a vapour generation manifold for mercury and arsenic analysis.

Analysis: Major, minor and trace metals. This instrument specialises in large-batch, rapid and precise analysis of elements in environmental samples with detection limits of 0.1-3.0 µg/l.

Samples: Marine sediments, natural waters, pore-waters, organic material, carbonate minerals such as corals and stalagmites. 

Applications:  Pollution and water quality monitoring, palaeoclimate reconstruction (Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca ratios in corals), marine geochemistry and chemical oceanography.

These analytical facilities at SAMS are available for hire, with or without technical and analytical support. SAMS staff can also provide data-analysis and project management services.

Nutrient analysis

SAMS has two Lachat Quik-Chem 8500 flow-injection analysis (FIA) nutrient analysers with detection based on spectro-photometry. These instruments are configured for rapid reproducible analysis of the common inorganic nutrients in a wide range of natural water samples

Analysis: Common biogeochemical nutrients including ammonia, phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite. One instrument is configured for dissolved organic phosphorous, dissolved organic nitrogen and urea.

Samples: Natural water samples including ground-water, river water, sea water and porewaters.

Applications: Environmental monitoring, biogeochemical cycling, chemical oceanography and fish farming.

These analytical facilities at SAMS are available for hire, with or without technical and analytical support. SAMS staff can also provide data-analysis and project management services.
 

Core-logging

The SAMS multi-sensor core logger is the only instrument of its type within Scotland. It combines rapid analysis of key geotechnical parameters with high spatial resolution (1 mm) allowing rapid gathering of sedimentological and environmental information from cores.

Analysis:  Rapid (automated) and high-resolution analysis of Core Diameter, P-Wave Velocity, Gamma Attenuation, Magnetic Susceptibility and Electrical Resistivity. This allows the estimation of porosity, grain size, bulk density, and terrestrial input.

Samples:  Any rock core or hard or soft sediment core. The instrument can analyse both whole and split cores. 

Applications:  Palaeo-environmental reconstruction from sedimentological parameters. Marine Geology. Geotechnical characterisation of rocks. Mining and oil industry. Construction industry.

These analytical facilities at SAMS are available for hire, with or without technical and analytical support. SAMS staff can also provide data-analysis and project management services.

Radiochemistry

SAMS has full radiochemical analytical facilities which are used for a range of environmental applications. We have six gamma counters (with coaxial high-purity germanium detectors) and 24 alpha counters (with alpha silicon surface barrier detectors), a gas proportional counter and beta scintillation counters.

Analysis:  Gamma, Alpha- and Beta-particle emitting radioactive elements. These include radioisotopes from natural systems, industrial sources, and radiotracers.

Samples: Natural waters, sediments, soils and organic tissues.

Applications:  U-series dating (eg. 210Pb, U/Th), rates of sediment supply/deposition and mixing, environmental radioactive pollution, the study of oceanographic and environmental processes using natural and manmade radionuclides as tracers.

These analytical facilities at SAMS are available for hire, with or without technical and analytical support. SAMS staff can also provide data-analysis and project management services.

Organic compounds

SAMS have a suite of gas chromatographs (including GCMS) and associated analysers, optimised for the quantification of trace organic compounds. This facility is used for the analysis of biogases such as methane and dimethyl-sulphide (DMS) as well as environmental and biomarker molecules such as fatty acids.

Analysis: Marine biogases including methane, DMS and related non-volatile compounds (e.g. dimethylsulphoxide and dimethylsulphoniopropionate). Potentially able to detect other hydrocarbon or sulphur based gases. Hydrocarbon biomarker molecules eg. lipids.

Samples: Seawater, freshwater, sediment, sedimentary particles, cultures, and gaseous samples. Sample collection/preparation through purge and cryogenic trap, head space analysis or direct injection

Applications:  Marine productivity studies, ocean biogeo-chemistry, C-cycling. Trophic-level studies, palaeoclimate.

These analytical facilities at SAMS are available for hire, with or without technical and analytical support. SAMS staff can also provide data-analysis and project management services.

For more information please contact Keri Page (Business Development Manager; 01631559362) or Dave Gunn (SAMS Director of Knowledge Transfer and Commercialisation; 01631559375).