Research Facilities
CNR's Dynamic Labs
Center for Natural Resources boasts state-of-the-art facilities, featuring:
1,200 square feet of wet laboratory space with a sizeable 45-foot-long hydraulics flume
A laminar hood and various shakers that facilitate experiments in water chemistry and microbiology
A 500-square-foot environmental fluid mechanics laboratory that houses a cutting-edge 2019 Dantec PIV (Particle Image Velocimeter) system, enabling precise measurement of water velocities at the micron scale within hydraulic setups.
Analytical Competency 1
Computing Expertise 2
Virtual Reality 3
Scientific instruments at CNR
Cole-Parmer 4802 UV/VIS Double Beam Spectrophotometer
Measured Parameter: Absorbance, transmittance, analyte concentration
Sample Matrix: Water, wastewater, environmental samples, chemical solutions, laboratory standards
Measurement Principle: Compares transmitted UV/Visible light through sample and reference beams to determine absorbance according to Beer–Lambert law
HORIBA Aqualog Spectrofluorometer
Measured Parameter: Fluorescence intensity, excitation-emission matrices (EEMs), UV-Vis absorbance, dissolved organic matter characteristics
Sample Matrix: Natural waters, groundwater, surface water, wastewater, treated water
Measurement Principle: Combines fluorescence spectroscopy and absorbance spectroscopy to characterize dissolved organic matter
Shimadzu TOC-L Total Organic Carbon Analyzer
Measured Parameter: TOC, TC, IC and NPOC
Sample Matrix: Drinking water, wastewater, surface water, groundwater, process water
Measurement Principle: High-temperature catalytic combustion converts carbon to CO2, quantified by NDIR detection
Shimadzu OCT-L 8-Port Autosampler
Measured Parameter: Automated sample introduction for TOC analysis
Sample Matrix: Liquid environmental samples and standards
Measurement Principle: Automatically introduces multiple samples into the TOC analyzer
Shimadzu SSM-5000A Solid Sample Module
Measured Parameter: Total carbon and total organic carbon in solids
Sample Matrix: Soil, sediment, sludge and other solid samples
Measurement Principle: Combusts solid samples and measures generated CO2 using the connected TOC analyzer
KRÜSS Spinning Drop Tensiometer
Measured Parameter: Interfacial tension
Sample Matrix: Oil-water systems, emulsions, surfactant solutions
Measurement Principle: Measures droplet deformation in a rotating capillary to calculate ultra-low interfacial tension
Anton Paar MCR 72 Modular Compact Rheometer
Measured Parameter: Viscosity, shear stress, shear rate and viscoelastic properties
Sample Matrix: Oils, slurries, suspensions, polymers and environmental fluids
Measurement Principle: Applies controlled stress/strain and measures deformation under defined conditions
Anton Paar DMA 4200 M Density Meter
Measured Parameter: Density and specific gravity
Sample Matrix: Liquids including water, petroleum products and solvents
Measurement Principle: Oscillating U-tube method determines density from resonance frequency
SEAL Analytical AA500 Continuous Flow Analyzer
Measured Parameter: Nutrient concentrations including ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and silica (method dependent)
Sample Matrix: Drinking water, wastewater, groundwater and surface water
Measurement Principle: Segmented continuous flow analysis with colorimetric detection
CNR also has access to other instruments, including GC/MS, SEM, FTIR and Raman Microscope, through the Material Characterization Laboratory at Otto H. York Center for Environmental Engineering and Science.
