KOCHI:
The Sophisticated Test and Instrumentation Centre(STIC) in Cochin University of Science and Technology is all set to inaugurate the newly installed Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometer(ICP-MS) and Powder X-Ray Diffractometer in its Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility(SAIF), supported by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The 2.20 crore facility will be inaugurated jointly by Dr. Sudheer, the Executive Vice President, KSCSTE and Dr. K N Madhusoodanan, CUSAT Vice Chancellor on July 2nd. The ICP-MS is used for elemental detection and analysis of elements including traces of heavy metals in water, biological/clinical samples, environmental samples, rocks, soils, clays, composites, minerals and other materials. This newly installed ICP-MS is capable of measuring all analytes in a single helium Kinetic Energy Discrimination(He KED) mode and can even measure Lithium and Beryllium at sub ppt levels with excellent interference removal with high ion transmission. Reactive gas capability targets specific interference ions for challenging applications.
The powder x-ray diffractometer has numerous applications in material investigation, characterization and quality control for industrial and academic research which include quantitative determination of minerals in geological specimen, degree of crystallinity determination of polymers, crystallographic data refinement and outline crystallographic analysis. New Powder X-Ray Diffractometer is equipped with reflection/transmission/parallel beam geometry and gracing incidence, in-line focus and pair focus. Features of new instrument include anti scatter slits for background suppression, rotating sample stage for controlling orientation, advanced primary and secondary optics to reduce peak asymmetry.
The instrument is of high resolution position sensitive detector capable of 0D 1d and 2D operations and high fluorescence suppression.
“STIC is in the process of setting up of a full fledged water testing facility as per BIS standards”, informed Dr. J Jagannath Bhat, Director i/c of the Centre. “SAIF, initiated in 2004 is widely utilized by research community in academic, R&D labs and industries throughout the country” Dr. Bhat added.
