Mineral Support Laboratory
(MSL)
Mission:
The mission of the MSL is to provide analytical support to determine mineral content in food and biological samples, as well as mineral stable isotope enrichment in samples from human mineral stable isotope studies.
Facility & Instrumentation:
The MSL has instruments for sample preparation and mineral analysis. Instruments include microwave oven digestion systems(CEM MARS 5 & MDS-2000), atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS)(Perkin Elmer Aanalyst 800), inductively coupled plasmaatomic emission spectroscopy(ICP-AES) (Varian Vista AX), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) (Perkin Elmer Elan 6000, with a Cetac U-6000AT+ ultrasonic nebulizer). The MSL facilities are housed in 3 labs. The trace element sample prep room contains 2 polypropylene acid fume hoods (Microzone Corp.), and has epoxy flooring. The instrument room is plumbed with custom ventilation for the ICP and AAS instruments. The positive pressure clean room contains 2 polypropylene laminar flow hoods (Microzone Corp.), and there is an anteroom leading into the clean room.
