Shared Instrument Facility (SIF)
About
The SIF is a multi-instrument facility featuring a broad range high tech scientific instruments, servicing both teaching and research.
Services:
Our primary focus is on providing services for the Chemistry Department; however we have the capability to service external academic and industry clients. Please contact the Lab Director for more information.
Contact(s):
Ben Herring
Office: B352
Email:
Location: RM B353
The Shared Instrument Facility
Department of Chemistry
2036 Main Mall,
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada V6T 1Z1
Tel: (604) 822-4211
Fax: (604) 822-2847
Instruments
Atomic force microscope (AFM)
The Nanosurf EasyScan 2 AFM is a scanning microscope system, capable of performing nanometer-scale measurements in air. This AFM module can be used with both solid and liquid samples operated with static mode or dynamic mode.
Capillary Electrophoresis (CE)-Diode Array Detector (DAD)
The Agilent 7100 CE system with ChemStation Software provides HPLC-like sensitivity to a wide range of analytical challenges. This instrument offers the advantage that several separation modes can be run on a single instrument.
- Highly sensitive
- Flexible separation modes
- Increased sensitivity with extended light path capillary
Circular dichroism/optical rotary dispersion spectrophotometer (CD/ORD)
The Jasco J-815 CD spectrophotometer is capable to measure the optical activity of chiral compounds from 163-1100 nm and has an air cooled Xenon arc lamp or water cooled Xenon lamp.
- Sample type: solid or liquid samples
- Measurement from 163 – 1100 nm
- Operated with Spectra Manager software
Fluorescence Spectrophotometer
The Agilent Cary Eclipse Fluorescence Spectrophotometer is used to measure the emission of light from samples in four modes: fluorescence, phosphorescence or chemi/bio luminescence. The Xenon flash lamp is used for the instrument to provide superior sensitivity, high signal-to noise, and fast kinetics.
Fourier Transfer-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) with attenuated total reflectance (ATR)
PerkinElmer Frontier FT-IR is used to obtain an infrared spectrum of absorption of a solid, liquid or gas. The FT-IR offers flexible system configurations in the near, near-mid, mid-far and far infrared regions, and support an extensive range of applications.
- Can be used to measure liquid, solid or gas samples
- The user should bring their own gas cell while measuring gas samples
- Characterize novel materials
- Fast analysis time
Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Agilent 6890N GC coupled with 5975B MS detector is operated with ChemStation Software which high sensitivity analysis for gas phase samples.
- Split-splitless injection system
- Built in library is available for identifing unknown compounds
- Auto-sampler is available for multisampling
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-Diode Array Detector (DAD)
The Agilent 1260 Infinity Binary uHPLC system enables to handle 600 bar pressure while retaining the practicality and principles of HPLC, a separation/isolation technique.
- Only manual injector available
- Fixed injection volume (5uL)
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-Mass Spectrometer (MS)
The Agilent Quadruple uHPLC-MS system combines the physical separation capabilities of uHPLC with the mass analysis capabilities of mass spectrometry. It is a powerful technique with very high sensitivity and selectivity.
- Auto-sampler available for multi-sampling
- Low sample volume (<0.5mL)
- Operated with ChemStation
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectrometer
Bruker Avance-III 300 NMR is a state-of-the-art NMR spectrometer is operating at 300mHz for 1H and 13C observation. This instrument is fully capable of performing any 1D or 2D NMR experiment possible on a 2-channel NMR spectrometer.
- Only accept drop in appointment for departmental users
- For external users, please contact the NMR Facility for measuring or submitting NMR samples
For high resolution NMR spectroscopy, please contact the High-Resolution NMR Analytical Services and Research Support Facility.
Polarimeter
Jasco P-2000 polarimeter can be used to measure the angel of rotation caused by passing polarized light through an optically active substance. It has analytical wavelengths from UV-Vis to NIR.
- Sample capacity: 8.5-8.7mL
UV/Vis spectrophotometer
The UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer detects in the 175-3300 nm range and can extend its near infrared (NIR) range to 3300 nm.
Services
Our primary focus is on providing services for the Chemistry Department; however we have the capability to service external academic and industry clients. Please contact the Lab Director for more information.
Prior to work, all users have to complete BOTH instrument-specific and Chemical Safety Training — no exceptions. Please call or e-mail to arrange a time with us for training on the listed instruments,
- Atomic force microscope (AFM)
- Capillary electrophoresis chromatograph (CE)
- Circular dichroism/optical rotary dispersion spectrophotometer (CD/ORD)
- Fluorometer
- Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) with attenuated total reflectance (ATR)
- Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS)
- Liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS)
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR)
- Polarimeter
- Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC)
- Three UV/Vis spectrophotometers - one with NIR capabilities
- Spectrometer
For Chemical Safety training, please contact the department Safety Program Administrator
All users need to reserve the instruments through the instrument booking site https://wapps.chem.ubc.ca/sif or contact the Lab Director.
Contact the Lab Director for the fee schedule.
General Rules for Working in the Shared Instrument Facility
- Booking is done through the online system, except for NMR (drop-in service);
- Do not bring any biohazardous, radioactive or toxic materials;
- Bench surfaces must be left clear of glassware, garbage and spills;
- Waste must be decontaminated and disposed of;
- If the gas cylinder pressure is under 500 psi, please bring up a new one and write it in the logbook or ask SIF technician to replace it for you. Do not leave gas cylinders completely empty.
- Removing their work materials from workstations as tasks are completed
- Sign the log book for all the SIF instruments after use;
- Login/logout from Windows will keep track of time spend on the instrument (billing), therefore remember to logout.