ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS USED

v CP: Capacitance Bridge

Ø Measured electrical properties of clay sample

¨ DC resistance, capacitance, and inductance

v DNA isolation and purification: Preliminary step to the PCR

Ø Attempted to extract DNA from a clay sample for analysis

¨ To rule out DNA in clay (for later use as catalytic agent)

v EM: Electron Microprobe

Ø Analyze elements from fluorine (Z=9) to uranium (Z=92)

¨ At levels as low as 100 parts per million

v GC: Gas Chromatograph

Ø Separates molecules from a vaporized sample

¨ Identifies smaller compounds (from smallest to largest)

v HPLC: High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Ø Separates molecules under high pressure

¨ in a stainless steel column filled with a matrix

v ICPMS: Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer

Ø Nebulizes sample for trace metals analysis

¨ Looking for therapeutic properties of clay sample

v IR: Infrared Spectroscopy, in reflectance mode.

Ø Identification of characteristic stretching vibrations

¨ to confirm phyllosilicate structure of clay under study

v PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction

Ø PCR rapidly amplifies a single DNA molecule

¨ Can make billions of identical molecules for experiments

v SEM: Scanning Electron Microscopy

Ø Electromagnets bend an electron beam around a sample

¨ Produces a 3D image on a screen, can identify elements

v TLC: Thin Layer Chromatography

Ø Makes a quick identification of a compound on a TLC plate

¨ For analysis of products after a chemical reaction

v XRD: X-ray Diffraction (Powder)

Ø Measures the distance between atoms using Bragg Equation

¨ Determines the crystal structure of substances

v XRF: X-ray Fluorescence

Ø Identifies the major elements in a sample

¨ Takes little or no preparation