Research Facilities

Materials Characterization and Processing
- Biomass conversion: high performance anion exchange chromatograph (HPAEC), GPC with differential viscometer/light scattering/RI/UV-VIS detector, accelerated solvent extractor, thermo gravimetric analysis set-up.
- Inorganic membranes and nano-particles: atomic layer deposition reactor, GC, porosimetry, single-gas and multi-gas permeation, thin film sol-gel dipping apparatus, high temperature furnaces.
- Paper coating: atomic force microscope¹, environmental scanning electron microscope, Raman spectrometer¹ with confocal microscope capabilities, Instron mechanical tester, laser scanning confocal microscope, mercury porosimeter, BET apparatus for measuring surface area, video equipment for observing spreading and absorption of liquids into paper, Wilhelmy apparatus for dynamic contact angle determination, image analyzer, Bristow absorption tester, ink gloss dynamics attachment on KRK print tester.
- Polymer processing: 1-inch and 1½-inch single-screw extruders, cast film dies, feed block for multilayer film casting, non-contacting tensiometer, infrared thermometer, video system for image analysis.

Molecular Biophysics
- Cell and tissue culture: Farma Scientific CO₂ and water-jacketed incubator, Innova 2000 platform shaker, Isotemp water bath & shaker.
- Microscopy and spectroscopy: femtosecond sum frequency vibrational spectrometer capable of non-linear spectroscopic interfacial characterization, diffraction limited imaging spectrometer capable of time-resolved (<ns) single photon counting in multiple energy channels, two photon confocal microscopes (Olympus), PCR, luminometer.

Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
- Oxygen delignification: oxygen delignification batch Parr reactor, oxygen delignification differential Berty-type reactor.
- Paper making: pilot paper machine with 12 inch trim and equipped with gate-roll size-press, CLC pilot coater capable of running at 6000 fpm, lab super- and soft-calender, KRK proof press, IGT print tester.
- Pulping and recovery: high performance anion exchange chromatograph (HPAEC), GPC with differential viscometer/light scattering/RI/UV-VIS detector, accelerated solvent extractor, thermo gravimetric analysis set-up, Kraft black liquor char bed set-up.

Sensor Development
- Acoustic sensors: bulk-longitudinal mode acoustic sensors with a programmed ultrasonic attenuation (3 – 100 MHz) spectrometer, thickness-shear mode acoustic sensors with a high-precision electrical impedance (40 Hz – 110 MHz) spectrometer, flow-through sample chambers for characterizing highly concentrated colloidal suspensions, electroacoustic analyzers for zeta potential measurements.
- Gas sensors: equipment for wet chemical micromachining of silicon, gas delivery systems with computer actuated flow control valves housed in a ventilated enclosure, an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) system with two supersonic molecular beam sources and a mass spectrometer for characterization of surface mechanisms using techniques such as King and Wells’ reflectivity and temperature programmed desorption.

Spectroscopic Techniques
- Near-infrared spectroscopy: Ocean Optics S2000 Vis/NIR spectrometer (550-1100 nm) with 5 nm sensitivity, Control Development NIR spectrometer (900-1700 nm) with 2 nm sensitivity.
- Surface spectroscopy/microscopy: femtosecond sum frequency vibrational spectrometer capable of non-linear spectroscopic interfacial characterization.
- Time-resolved single molecule spectroscopy/microscopy: diffraction limited imaging spectrometer capable of time-resolved (<ns) single photon counting in multiple energy channels.

Surfaces and Interfaces
- Orientation and conformation of interfacial species: femtosecond sum frequency vibrational spectrometer for non-linear spectroscopic interfacial characterization, infrared spectrometer¹ for linear spectroscopic bulk and interfacial characterization, atomic force microscopy¹ for microscopic interfacial characterization.

Transport and Separation Processes
- Micropore diffusion: ZLC and a tracer ZLC system for measuring diffusion and self diffusion in microporous solids.
- Rheology: Instron capillary rheometer, rotational rheometers (Rheometrics, Haake, Hercules, Brookfield, Bohlin constant stress device), elongational viscometer.