CEPM Instrumentation


Particle Size Analysis: Equipment for particle size analysis includes a fully automated Beckman Coulter LS 13 320 Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer. The LS 13 320 is equipped with a multi-wavelength optical bench that incorporates Polarization Intensity Differential Scattering (PIDS) technology that allows highly accurate measurements over a particle size range from 0.04 μm to 2,000 μm. An automated sample preparation station with sample carousel facilitates high throughput and high consistency. In addition, we have a computer controlled dry/wet sieving system available to measure particle size distributions for sandy materials and larger particle sizes. Surface Area and Micro Pore Size Distribution Analysis: Equipment for surface area analysis includes a Beckman Coulter SA 3100 Gas Adsorption Surface Area Analyzer and WP4-T Dewpoint Potentiameters to measure water adsorption isotherms. The SA 3100 with internal PC and flexible software provides accurate measures for BET and Langmuir surface area, BJH Adsorption and Desorption, Pore Size Distribution, t-Plot, and total pore volume. Nitrogen, Krypton, or Argon can be used as adsorbent gases. An external degassing station facilitates high throughput. Analysis of water adsorption isotherms obtained with the WP4-T offer a second advanced avenue to determine surface area (Tuller and Or, 2005). Liquid Retention and Hydraulic Conductivity: A fully automated permeameter system that was developed and tested by PI Schaap (NSF IF 0715150) is available for precise determination of saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivities. Decagon WP4-T Dewpoint Potentiameters, Tempe cells, pressure plate devices, vacuum chambers, vacuum pumps and controllers, are available for accurate determination of liquid retention characteristics. PI’s Schaap and Tuller have extensive expertise with the measurement of hydraulic porous media properties. Mineralogical Analysis - X-ray Diffraction: The CEPM includes a PANalytical X’Pert Pro MPD X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) for the qualitative and quantitative identification of crystalline mineral and organic phases. The XRD unit produces Cu-Kα radiation, with the option of a graphite monochromator or Ni-filter for removal of Cu-Kβ radiation and background noise from Fe-fluorescence, utilizes fixed divergence and convergence slits, a sealed xenon detector, and associated X’Pert Highscore Plus software with the full ICDD Powder Diffraction File database for analysis of diffraction patterns. The XRD unit also has a 15-sample autosampler for efficient sample throughput. All components of the XRD unit are machined and pre-aligned allowing for the easy interchange of all components. Organic and Inorganic Thermal Analysis: Equipment for thermal analysis of organic and inorganic materials includes a Perkin-Elmer Diamond TG/DTA with a high temperature range (ambient to 1500˚C) and vacuum capable furnace with forced air cooling. The Diamond TG/DTA uses a simultaneous thermoanalytical technique measuring weight loss/gain with a horizontal differential balance and change in temperature or heat flow as a function of temperature or time. The heating rate is programmable from 0.01 to 100˚C/min and can operate with various purge gasses and flow rates. The simultaneous TG/DTA measurement system may be readily converted to calorimetric units using tin and indium standards. Thermal analysis may be used to quantify mineral and organic phases, energies of hydration and energies of combustion. Soil Dielectric Analysis: CEPM is equipped with a Wayne-Kerr 6530B Series (20Hz – 30MHz) impedance analyzer. This instrument is used for accurate low frequency characterization of porous materials and new sensor development. In addition, CEPM has eight TDR100/CR1000 Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) datalogger multiplexer combinations for water content measurements in laboratory columns and at field sites. Computer Infrastructure and Data Storage: Available computer equipment includes a dedicated computer with all analytical instruments (LS 13 320, SA 3100, WP4-T, XRD, etc.); each machine is networked and routinely backed up. A high capacity Linux file server is available for data storage and database applications (two 2.8 GHz dual core AMD-64 CPUs, 8 GB RAM, and 4 TB in RAID 5 storage). CEPM also has two servers for computationally intensive tasks (two 2.8 GHz dual core AMD-64 CPUs, 32 GB RAM each). The latter two systems are capable of running 64-bit versions of Linux or Windows XP, depending on the software requirements. Other Available Equipment & Infrastructure: Other available equipment includes a TestEquity 1007H Temperature/Humidity Chamber for sensor development, calibration, and testing, and a vast array of sensors and loggers for field moisture, salinity and temperature measurements. Machining facilities within the CEPM, including metal/plastic lathe, band saw, drill press, table saw, and extensive hand tools, facilitate fabrication of instrumentation and accessories at substantial cost savings, as well as provide flexibility and rapid response to specific research requirements. For larger machining projects, we have access to three highly specialized machine shops at the University of Arizona Campus, Agricultural Center, and Environmental Research Laboratory. Both A Ford F-100 and Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks are available for field campaigns.

Particle Size Analysis: Equipment for particle size analysis includes a fully automated Beckman Coulter LS 13 320 Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer. The LS 13 320 is equipped with a multi-wavelength optical bench that incorporates Polarization Intensity Differential Scattering (PIDS) technology that allows highly accurate measurements over a particle size range from 0.04 μm to 2,000 μm. An automated sample preparation station with sample carousel facilitates high throughput and high consistency. In addition, we have a computer controlled dry/wet sieving system available to measure particle size distributions for sandy materials and larger particle sizes.

Surface Area and Micro Pore Size Distribution Analysis: Equipment for surface area analysis includes a Beckman Coulter SA 3100 Gas Adsorption Surface Area Analyzer and WP4-T Dewpoint Potentiameters to measure water adsorption isotherms. The SA 3100 with internal PC and flexible software provides accurate measures for BET and Langmuir surface area, BJH Adsorption and Desorption, Pore Size Distribution, t-Plot, and total pore volume. Nitrogen, Krypton, or Argon can be used as adsorbent gases. An external degassing station facilitates high throughput. Analysis of water adsorption isotherms obtained with the WP4-T offer a second advanced avenue to determine surface area (Tuller and Or, 2005).

Liquid Retention and Hydraulic Conductivity: A fully automated permeameter system that was developed and tested by PI Schaap (NSF IF 0715150) is available for precise determination of saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivities. Decagon WP4-T Dewpoint Potentiameters, Tempe cells, pressure plate devices, vacuum chambers, vacuum pumps and controllers, are available for accurate determination of liquid retention characteristics. PI’s Schaap and Tuller have extensive expertise with the measurement of hydraulic porous media properties.

Mineralogical Analysis - X-ray Diffraction: The CEPM includes a PANalytical X’Pert Pro MPD X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) for the qualitative and quantitative identification of crystalline mineral and organic phases. The XRD unit produces Cu-Kα radiation, with the option of a graphite monochromator or Ni-filter for removal of Cu-Kβ radiation and background noise from Fe-fluorescence, utilizes fixed divergence and convergence slits, a sealed xenon detector, and associated X’Pert Highscore Plus software with the full ICDD Powder Diffraction File database for analysis of diffraction patterns. The XRD unit also has a 15-sample autosampler for efficient sample throughput. All components of the XRD unit are machined and pre-aligned allowing for the easy interchange of all components.

Organic and Inorganic Thermal Analysis: Equipment for thermal analysis of organic and inorganic materials includes a Perkin-Elmer Diamond TG/DTA with a high temperature range (ambient to 1500˚C) and vacuum capable furnace with forced air cooling. The Diamond TG/DTA uses a simultaneous thermoanalytical technique measuring weight loss/gain with a horizontal differential balance and change in temperature or heat flow as a function of temperature or time. The heating rate is programmable from 0.01 to 100˚C/min and can operate with various purge gasses and flow rates. The simultaneous TG/DTA measurement system may be readily converted to calorimetric units using tin and indium standards. Thermal analysis may be used to quantify mineral and organic phases, energies of hydration and energies of combustion.

Soil Dielectric Analysis: CEPM is equipped with a Wayne-Kerr 6530B Series (20Hz – 30MHz) impedance analyzer. This instrument is used for accurate low frequency characterization of porous materials and new sensor development. In addition, CEPM has eight TDR100/CR1000 Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) datalogger multiplexer combinations for water content measurements in laboratory columns and at field sites.

Computer Infrastructure and Data Storage: Available computer equipment includes a dedicated computer with all analytical instruments (LS 13 320, SA 3100, WP4-T, XRD, etc.); each machine is networked and routinely backed up. A high capacity Linux file server is available for data storage and database applications (two 2.8 GHz dual core AMD-64 CPUs, 8 GB RAM, and 4 TB in RAID 5 storage). CEPM also has two servers for computationally intensive tasks (two 2.8 GHz dual core AMD-64 CPUs, 32 GB RAM each). The latter two systems are capable of running 64-bit versions of Linux or Windows XP, depending on the software requirements.

Other Available Equipment & Infrastructure: Other available equipment includes a TestEquity 1007H Temperature/Humidity Chamber for sensor development, calibration, and testing, and a vast array of sensors and loggers for field moisture, salinity and temperature measurements. Machining facilities within the CEPM, including metal/plastic lathe, band saw, drill press, table saw, and extensive hand tools, facilitate fabrication of instrumentation and accessories at substantial cost savings, as well as provide flexibility and rapid response to specific research requirements. For larger machining projects, we have access to three highly specialized machine shops at the University of Arizona Campus, Agricultural Center, and Environmental Research Laboratory. Both A Ford F-100 and Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks are available for field campaigns.