Mineral Synthesis Laboratories

Two state-of-the-art laboratories for the synthesis, characterisation and solid-solution reactions of environmental abiotic and biotic mineral phases. Capability includes mineral synthesis under strict anaerobic conditions; use of chemostat and hydrothermal facilities; advanced characterisation of nanoparticulate mineral phases; and the ability to investigate and monitor in situ the formation, transformation and solid-solution reactions of minerals and trace-species at realistic environmental conditions. In particular, studies of iron and manganese (hydr)oxide / sulphide mineral-fluid reactions and carbonate mineral systems.

Facilities include:

• Double Coy anaerobic chamber
• Chemostat/biological fermentor
• Large-volume digestion bombs for mineral synthesis under hydrothermal conditions
• Flow-through UV-Vis
• FTIR spectrometer
• High speed centrifuges
• Metrohm autotitrator system for controlled-condition potentiometric titrations and pH stat experiments
• BET surface area analyser
• Stopped-flow reactor