Analytical Laboratory - Center for Applied Energy

Analytical Services
Partnerships
Contract Research

The University of Kentucky's Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) maintains an analytical laboratory that offers a variety of services ranging from sample analysis to long-term collaborative research. Our experienced professionals, along with the state of the art instrumentation combine to provide you with an unsurpassed problem solving capability that can be tailored to your specific needs. The University of Kentucky's Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) maintains an analytical laboratory that offers a variety of services ranging from sample analysis to long-term collaborative research. Our experienced professionals, along with the state of the art instrumentation combine to provide you with an unsurpassed problem solving capability that can be tailored to your specific needs.

Chromatographic Analysis

Gas Chromatography

(C₁- C₇, H₂, CO, CO₂, O₂, N₂)
Capillary/Packed Column (FID, TCD, SCD, NCD AND MSD detectors)
Simulated Distillations

Ion Chromatography

Cation scan (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH+₄, K⁺)
Anion scan (F^-, Cl^-, Br^-, NO₃^-, NO₂^-, PO4₃^-, SO₄2^-)

Liquid Chromatography

Separations: acid, base, neutral

Spectroscopic Analysis

X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD)

High temperature in-situ XRD
General Analysis and JCPDS Search
Clay Mineralogy

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)

Wavelength Dispersive

Electron Microscopy (SEM)

SEM/STEM

Infrared (FT-r.r.)

Solids/liquids
Transmission/Reflectance
In-situ heated ATRcell

RAMAN (FT Raman)

Solids/liquids

Ultraviolet/Visible (UV/VIS)

General Analysis

Metal Analysis

Atomic Absorption
FIAS
Gaseous Hydride (GHAA)
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)
Inductively coupled ultrasonic nebulizer (ICP)
ICP/MS
Mercury-Specific Analysis

Thermal Analysis

TGA
TGA/MS
TGA/DSC
DTA
TG/DSC/MS
DSC
DMA
LFA
Rheometer

Surface Analysis

BET Surface Area and Pore Size Distributions
Partial or Full N₂ Isotherm; static or continuous
Specialty Gas Adsorption
SEM/STEM
TPD-MS

Particle Size Analysis

Malvern (0.1µ - 2 mm)
Laser Diffraction
Granulometer (1-128µ)
Dual laser diffraction (0.04 - 2000µ)
Multiple Sieve-Mesh Sizing (dry/wet)

Physical Measurements

Calorimetry (BTU/lb)
Density (Liquid and Solid)
Surface Tension
Viscosity
TAM Micro Calorimeter
Distillations (ASTM D-86); (ASTM D-1160); (Prep 51)

Sample Preparation

Low Temperature Ashing (LTA)
Open and Closed Vessel Microwave
Bulk Samples - (Crush/dry/riffle/blend); (Grinding/Milling); (Wet/dry sieving)
High Temperature Asher (1700° C)
Microwave Ashing Furnace
Sample Handling and Preparation (Grinding)
Sample Handling under Argon or Nitrogen
Prep Charges Drum Equivalent (Crushing, Drying, Riffle, Blending)
Sample Press
Sample Fluxer

Coal/Coke Testing

Ultimate (M, A, C, H, N, S, O by Difference)
Proximate (M, A, VM, FC)
Fuel Test (M, A, S, BTU)
Moisture (Drying/Karl Fischer)
Volatile Matter
Ash
Major Elements in Ash - (MgO, Na₂O, TiO₂, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, P₂O₅, SO₃)
Minor Elements in Ash - (Mo, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Ba, V, Mn, Rb, Sr, Zr)
Carbon and Hydrogen, Nitrogen
Inorganic Carbon (carbonate)
Sulfur forms (Pyritic, Sulfate, Organic by difference)
Heating Value (BTU/lb)
Trace Level Nitrogen
Chlorine
Ultimate and Proximate
Ultimate, Proximate, BTU
Ultimate, Proximate, and Sulfur Forms
Ultimate, Proximate, Sulfur Forms, and BTU
Free Selling Index
Fusion Temperatures of Ash (Oxidizing and/or Reducing ATM)
Hardgrove Grindability
Viscosity
Surface Tension
Oxygen (by Difference)
Carbon Dioxide
Trace Level Sulfur
Trace Level Nitrogen
Mercury