Our capabilities
TrACEES Platform’s core capabilities are identification and quantitation of elements, chemicals and structures on the surface of a sample, or within a complex matrix.
Our services
Melbourne TrACEES Platform offers a range of general and specialised analytical services for water, soil, biological, polymers, constructions and geological samples including nutrients, trace elements, toxic heavy metals (e.g. Hg, Se, As), organic compounds (semi-volatiles, fatty acids and alcohols). These services allow researchers and clients to enjoy peace of mind and is the best option for those who have limited knowledge and skills in analytical instrumentation. Explore our unique capabilities below.
Chemistry Node
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GCMS
Gas chromatography mass spectrometer is used to identify and quantify small (often volatile) organic molecules.
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HPLC
HPLC analysis is a method to measure compounds that dissolves in a solvent.
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ICPOES(chem)
Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer is an analytical instrument to identify and quantify over 70 elements at trace level.
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Py-GCMS
Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry is widely applied for the identification of polymeric materials.
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NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is an analytical technique that studies nuclei and their molecular structures, dynamic processes and chemical reactions.
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TGA
Thermal Gravimetric Analysis is widely applied for the measurement of a material's mass loss at elevated temperatures.
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Chemistry Node Access and Operation
Geo Node
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Micro-CT
micro-Computed Tomography reconstructs 3D image and enable to visualise inside the object without destroying the structure.
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EMPA
Electron microprobe analyser is able to visualise and analyse all elements from Boron to Uranium.
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ESEM
Environmental scanning electron microscope permits wet and insulating samples to be imaged at micron scales.
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MC-ICPMS
The Nu Instruments™ Sapphire MC-ICPMS allows for the precise and accurate determination of isotope ratios in many different element systems.
Soil Node
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ICPOES(soil)
Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer is an analytical instrument to identify and quantify over 70 elements at trace level.
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ICPMS
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer is an analytical instrument to identify and quantify over 70 elements at ultra-trace level.
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IRMS
Isotope ratio mass spectrometry is used to measure the relative abundance of isotopes in a sample.
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SFA
Segmented flow analyser is a highly automated and high throughput technique for multiple anions analysis.
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TCN
Total carbon and nitrogen analyser determines content of carbon and nitrogen (in percentages) in soil and plant samples.
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TOC
Total organic carbon analyser measures total, organic/inorganic carbons and total nitrogen in soil and water samples.
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Soil and plant testing
TrACEES Soil Node is accredited for a range of tests by ASPAC and has a strong capability in soils and plant testing and offers a range of high throughput services.
Microbial Laboratory
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QIAcube
QIAcube is designed to perform fully automated purification of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) and proteins in molecular biology applications.
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qPCR
Quantitative PCR offers two analytical modules for the microbial quantification such as the abundance of environmental bacteria and fungi.
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HT-qPCR
The Wafergen PCR system is used for large scale genotyping analysis and quantitation of environmental antibiotic resistance genes.
Thermochronology Laboratory
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CLSM
Confocal laser scanning microscopy is a technology designed for 3D-topographic analysis of materials and testing for surface microstructures.
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LA-ICPMS
Laser ablation ICPMS offers high sensitivity and rapid multi-elemental determinations of solid state samples at a ultra-trace level.
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Axio-Imager WS
Axio-Imager WS microscope provides brilliant optics with great contrast and resolution for generating image stacks and stitched photos serving as base maps.
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Sample Preparation
Sample preparation is often required for optimised analytical outcomes and precisions. Various mounting, cutting, grinding and coatings tools are available.
Other Associate Laboratories
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SQUID
The SQUID magnetometer allows for the measurement of magnetic response to an applied magnetic field at different temperatures for a range of samples.
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scXRD
Single crystal X-ray diffractometer measures diffraction data from crystals which allows the very accurate determination of molecular structure.
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PIXE
The GEMOC Nuclear Microprobe (NMP) provides good focussing performance, a normal viewing microscope and large solid-angle detectors.