The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2
Manitoba Chemical Analysis Laboratory (MCAL) is a chemical analysis facility in the department of chemistry at the University of Manitoba accessible to students, researchers, and the local industry.
MCAL was originally funded through a partnership between Western Economic Diversification, Agilent Technologies, and the Faculty of Science Endowment Fund.
Its main goals are
Equipment
Equipment in the MCAL facility is available for use by the research community. There is a fee structure set up for the use of the equipment to offset the costs and to keep the laboratory up to date for the research community. Contact MCAL for equipment booking, equipment status, availability of reagents, feasibility of the proposed experiments, etc.
Sample analysis
Sample analysis can be arranged by contacting MCAL to determine a timeline, protocol and fee arrangement. The MCAL facility is a research and analytical facility. Routine analysis of samples conducted by commercial laboratories is not a priority of the MCAL facility. The mandate of the MCAL facility is to supply analysis and research capability to companies and researchers at a level of instrumentation that they may not possess. The facility also trains students and industry personnel in the use of state-of-the-art scientific equipment.
Rules
The equipment can only be used by researchers trained in the use of the equipment. Damage to the equipment is the responsibility of the researcher using the equipment. Samples for analysis must be prepared in a manner that is compatible with the use of the instruments. Samples should be in the appropriate matrix for the column or system they are being applied to and must be filtered and prepared in such a manner that they will not plug or damage the instruments or columns. Student use of equipment is restricted to the laboratory time slot unless additional time in the laboratory is confirmed with laboratory personnel.
To submit samples to MCAL or to arrange to carry out a project using the MCAL facilities contact Michael Opyr.
Samples can be delivered in person to room 318 of the Parker Building, department of chemistry at the University of Manitoba (see map).
No samples should be sent to MCAL without prior contact.
In addition to providing a state-of-the-art educational environment to undergraduate students at the University of Manitoba, the facility supports training programs for graduate students and university researchers.
MCAL has a wide range of instrumentation that can be set up in various configurations. In addition, the facility has the ability to perform standard analyses or to help with method development.
MCAL is a chemical analysis facility capable of determining analytes in various matrices from biological, environmental, and industrial samples. A variety of instruments are available for the separation, identification, and quantification of these analytes. The equipment in the MCAL facility includes GC, LC, ICP-OES, spectrophotometers and electrophoresis equipment.
The laboratory also has access to NMR, FT-IR, LC-ESI-MS, and other routine analytical equipment.
MCAL has a wide range of chromatography separation instruments for both polar and non-polar compounds. The instruments include GC, HPLC, HPLC-MS (identification and quantification with MS-MS capability), and GC-MS (with dynamic headspace analysis and MS-MS capability).
For spectrophotometric analyses, the laboratory has two stand-alone Cary 50 spectrophotometers and a fluorimeter.
The laboratory has an ICP-OES instrument that can analyze over 70 elements from the periodic table. The instrument can analyze multiple elements on one run. There is an autosampler that provides the instrument with a new sample every 3 to 5 min. making it possible to analyze many samples at a reasonable cost.
Past analyses include iron and calcium content of water determination, macro and trace mineral analysis of feed verification, and phosphate content of soils or environmental samples determination.
MCAL is located in room 318 of the Parker Building (department of chemistry). Visitor parking can be found in the parkade adjacent to the University Centre or public (metered) parking next to St.John’s College.
Access to MCAL by students performing coursework and/or research in the facility, by researchers in the University, and by members of the industry community must be arranged through Emy Komatsu.
Michael Opyr
204-474-6110
Michael.Opyr@umanitoba.ca
