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The Centre for Cold Regions and Water Science (CCRWS) is a collaborative research facility that houses four research centres/groups and a variety of state-of-the-art analytical equipment. The facility, which opened in 2013, is funded by Laurier, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Research Within the CCRWS
CCRWS is home to two interdisciplinary Laurier research centres and two collaborative research groups.
Laurier Research Centres
- The Cold Regions Research Centre focuses on mountain and northern cold regions, covering such areas as hydrology, climatology, glaciology, resource management, parks planning, and biogeochemistry. Contact: info@coldregions.ca
- The Laurier Institute for Water Science (LIWS) is a multidisciplinary, collaborative undertaking focusing on both Canadian and global water issues, including the effects of climate change, the sustainability of healthy aquatic and coastal ecosystems, and the development of regulations and policy related to water use. Contact: Professor Jim McGeer, LIWS director
Collaborative Research Groups
- Canadian Aquatic Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Boreal Ecosystem Research (CALIBER) researchers apply a holistic, interdisciplinary, and ecosystem approach based on watersheds, responding to urgent and serious concerns about flows and storage processes and the effects of nutrients and contaminants on boreal freshwater. CALIBER facilities in the CCRWS building include labs for hydrology, aquatic culture and testing, biogeochemistry characterization, molecular biochemistry and imaging, and predictive modelling. CALIBER is funded by the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and Laurier.
- The Ontario Water Consortium (OWC) is a platform for research, development and demonstration of water technologies in the context of an urbanizing watershed. Laurier is one of eight university partners of the consortium, which also includes municipalities, not-for-profits, and the private sector. OWC facilities in the CCRWS building include labs for hydrometerology calibration, sample prep and stabilization, fish, and base workstations for researchers working in the field. The OWC portion of the centre is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Laurier.
Access to Equipment
CCRWS analytical equipment is available to internal and external users. Access policies and fees may vary by user type – for details, contact Gena Braun. User types are defined as follows:
- Internal user: Faculty members at Laurier, Laurier students or government researchers participating in the GNWT-Laurier Partnership.
- External academic: Faculty members from other universities not associated with GNWT-Laurier projects.
- External industry: Users from private industry.
Training Requirements
The Faculty of Science research instrumentation technicians will provide initial training for all new internal or external users preceding first use. New users cannot be given initial training by other users or students. Contact Gena Braun to schedule training.
User Fees
User fees have been created to offset the costs of instrument operation and maintenance. Contact Gena Braun for the current fee schedule.
Research Equipment and Infrastructure
Perkin Elmer Optima 8000 ICP-OES
The Optima 8000 ICP-OES is a dual view instrument, allowing for determination of both high and low concentrations in the same method. Use of compressed air as a shear gas removes the plasma tail plume, which eliminates many interferences and minimizes the need for the addition of ionization suppressants. The photons generated within the plasma are measured by a CCD array detector.
This ICP can measure almost all of the elements in the periodic table sequentially within a single sample. The dynamic range of measurement is element and matrix dependent, but typically ranges from tens of ppb (mg/L) to hundreds of ppm (mg/L).
Perkin Elmer PinAAcle 900T AA
The PinAAcle spectrometer allows for both flame and transversely-heated graphite furnace atomization, enabling the analysis of a wide range of sample concentrations. The furnace camera simplifies pyrolysis method development. This system is currently equipped with lamps for Ag, Al, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Ti and Zn.
Shimadzu TOC-LCPH Total Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Analyzer with Solid Sampling Module
The Shimadzu can be used to analyze a variety of carbon species and total nitrogen (TN) in liquid or solid samples using catalytic oxidation up to 680 degrees Celsius. Carbon can be assessed as total carbon (TC), organic carbon (TOC), non-purgable organic carbon (NPOC) and inorganic carbon (IC). This instrument is equipped with an ASI-L autosampler.
Analytic Jena NC3100
The NC3100 can also be used to analyze a variety of carbon species and total nitrogen (TN) in liquid or solid samples using catalytic oxidation up to 950 degrees Celsius. Carbon can be assessed as total carbon (TC), organic carbon (TOC), non-purgable organic carbon (NPOC) and inorganic carbon (IC). This instrument is equipped with an AS Vario autosampler.
SEAL Continue Flow AutoAnalyzer 3
The AutoAnalyzer can test for phosphate and ammonia using continuous flow colorimetry. It is equipped with a 120 vial autosampler, a high precision pump, two manifolds and a digital colorimeter with detection limits reaching 0.2 mg/L. The internal diameter of the glassware is two mm, which allows complex and non-homogeneous samples to be run without clogging. Roughly 50 samples can be run per hour with a minimum volume of three ml.
SmartChem Discrete Analyzer
The SmartChem autoanalyzer can be used to determine ppm nutrient concentrations and can analyze up to 200 samples per hour. It is currently equipped with methods for testing alkalinity, ammonia, chloride, cyanide, harness, nitrate, nitrite, phenol, phosphorous, silica, sulfate and TKN.
Mantech AssayPlus
The Mantech AssayPlus system is an automated multi-parameter ion-analysis system. It has a TitraSip module and a 73 position autosampler that holds 50-ml tubes. The system is currently equipped with ion selective electrodes for the analysis of ammonia, copper, chloride, lead, nitrate, potassium and sodium. The system is controlled by PC Titrate software.
Perkin Elmer 2400 CHNS Analyzer
Using the Pregl-Dumas combustion method, the 2400 elemental analyzer can determine the weight percent carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen or sulfur in a variety of sample types, with an analytical range of 0.001 to 3.6 mgs (element dependant). The 60 position autosampler allows for automated analysis, and the data is collected by the data management software.
Exeter Analytical CE-440 CHN Analyzer
The CE 440 can be used to measure carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, after combustion and reduction and using thermal conductivity. A variety of sample types can be analyzed and only a few mg of sample are required for analysis. This instrument offers lower per-cost sample analysis and a horizontal injector that reduces residue build-up and interferences.
Panalytical Epsilon 3 Benchtop EDXRF
The energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometer is used to determine the concentration of elements from sodium to americium in a wide variety of sample types. It performs non-destructive analysis with ppm level detection limits. The sample turntable holds 10 samples with diameters from 25 to 52 mm.
Aqualog Fluorescence Spectrometer
The Aqualog fluorescence spectrometer is uniquely designed to facilitate the analysis of dissolved organic matter using fast excitation-emission detection and can also be used to collect 2D absorbance scan data. The Aqualog excitation range is from 200 to 600 nm and uses a xenon lamp excitation source.
The Centre for Cold Regions and Water Science boasts a large rooftop greenhouse. Contact Gena Braun for greenhouse policies.
Contact Us:
Gena Braun, Research Instrumentation Technician
E: gbraun@wlu.ca
T: 519.884.0710 x2484
F: 519.884.0464
Office Location:
Centre for Cold Regions and Water Science, CRW206A, Waterloo campus
Office Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.