Analytical laboratory carries out classical chemical analysis of materials such as: drinking water, wastewater, soil and industrial wastes. It is also responsible for sample preparation for the other laboratories of the Unit. The Laboratory’s equipment includes atomic absorption, UV/VIS and Fourier transform infrared spectrometers.

Contact:
Dr. Raisa Banshatz
+972-8-6461942
banshatz@bgu.ac.il

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technology constitutes the basis of Applied Biosystems ABI PRISM 7000 Sequence Detection System for detecting and quantitating nucleic acid sequences. The instrument facilitates rapid comparative quantification of gene expression (mRNA quantification) and detection of pathogens.

ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer

DNA Sequencing and Profile of Separation are performed with the Center's state-of the-art Applied Biosystems ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer. The system is a high-throughput automated electrophoresis instrument with 16 capillaries, provided with software for data collection and analysis. It enables simultaneous analysis of 16 DNA samples every 2.5 hours for samples having 600-700 reliable DNA bases from each sequence.

ABI PRISM 377 DNA Sequencer

Gene Scan Analysis provides information on DNA fragment sizes and quantitative data. An Applied Biosystems ABI PRISM 377 DNA Sequencer is capable of running 64 samples simultaneously every two hours.

BioRad Protean IEF CELL

Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis for protein analysis and mapping is performed in the Unit with the aid of a BioRad Protean IEF CELL. The fully programmable instrument, which can store up to 10 user-defined methods, facilitates
simultaneous focusing of twenty-four 7-cm strips or 17-cm IPG strips. Compugen software is used for analyzing the gels.

UV-vis "nano" spectrophotometry with the NanoDropTM ND-1000 Spectrophotometer is used for determining the amounts and quality of nucleic acids at concentrations of 2-3700 ng/µl (without dilution), protein concentrations, and cell density. The size the sample to be examined is 1 µ1.

Plasmid DNA purification is performed with a T1000 Automated Tepnel
Purification System, which is able to extract up to 96 samples in less than 2 hours (extraction of each batch of 12 samples takes about 25min). The system, which may be used for miniprep quantities (up to 20 µg), produces high-quality plasmid DNA that is suitable for sequencing and other sophisticated uses.

Contact:
Dr. M. Huleihel
+972-8-4641999
mahmoudh@bgu.ac.il

ICP/AES

Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry/Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP/AES) is the technique of choice in the ppb-ppm concentration range for elemental analysis of any substance that can be dissolved.
The Laboratory`s Perkin-Elmer OPTIMA-3000 ICP spectrometer facilitates:
· Analysis of almost all the chemical elements (those with sufficiently sensitive emission lines within the range of 167-782 nm)
· Typical precision values of well below ±0.5%
· Detection limits down to ppb concentrations for certain elements
· Simultaneous analysis of 60 elements in less than 1 min
· Wide dynamic analytical range (provided by two solid state detectors, one for UV and the other for visible wavelengths)

Contact:
Ms. Sabina Felix
+972-8-6461948/72742
sfelix@bgu.ac.il

ICP/MS

Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry/Mass Spectroscopy (ICP/MS) is a very sensitive technique enabling quantitative analysis of trace elements in solution and differentiation between isotopes. The Laboratory’s PQ3 ICP-MS instrument is one of the few of its kind available in Israel. The vacuum system and sensitive ion counter enable ion scanning and the choice of an adequate mass/charge ratio of the ions and the isotopes. Due to high efficiency and low background noise, the detection threshold is of the order of ppt (pg/ml) of the element in solution.
Other advantages include:
· Simultaneous detection of many elements
· Detection of about 80% of the elements of the periodic table
· Sample feeding at atmospheric pressure
· Linear dynamic range of detection of more than four orders of magnitude of concentrations

Contact:
Ms. Sabina Felix
+972-8-6461948/72742
sfelix@bgu.ac.il

DSC & TGA

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) & Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) are sensitive thermal analysis techniques that find application in industry and academia in the study of polymers, minerals, building materials, ceramics, composites, metals and pharmaceuticals for:
· Evaluation of structural changes in solids, solvent mixtures, and liquid crystals
· Determination of mechanical properties of thermoplastics and fibers
· Determination of thermal properties of solids
· Following the course of certain chemical reactions

Contact:
Dr. Anna Miliontshick
+972-8-6461236/244
milionsh@bgu.ac.il

GC/MS

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) is the technique of choice for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic molecules that can be volatilized at 200-3000oC. Laboratory`s instrument is a GC HP 5890 with a mass selective detector HP 5971A.

Contact:
Dr. Leonid Kogan
+972-8-6477198
koganl@bgu.ac.il

HPLC

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic molecules and organic materials that are not sufficiently volatile for GC analysis (including high–molecular-weight molecules). Laboratory`s HPLC Waters 2690 is equipped with photodiode array and refractive index detectors.

Contact:
Mr. Ezra Amit
+972-8-6477198
ezram@bgu.ac.il

Ion Chromatography (IC)

Ion Chromatography (IC) is applied for the separation and quantitative analysis of cations and anions in concentrations as low as parts per billion. The Laboratory’s state-of-the-art Dionex DX-600 IC system facilitates the complete range of IC applications, including the analysis of complex species

Contact:
Mr. Ezra Amit
+972-8-6477198
ezram@bgu.ac.il

Mass Spectrometry (MS)

Mass Spectrometry (MS) is used to determine molecular weights and molecular cracking patterns.
The laboratory’s Balzers model 421 quadrupole mass spectrometer facilitates:
· Analysis of liquids and inorganic and organic gases with molecular masses in the range of 1/1024 amu and vapor pressures as low as 1 mbar
· Analysis of solids with molecular masses in the range of 1/1024 amu (solids are vaporized at 499ºC)
· Isotopic analysis of hydrogen and oxygen
· Quantitative (using calibration curves) or qualitative (fingerprinting) analysis of as little as 5 mg of material

TOC

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is determined with a Shimadzu Model TOC-5000A in a technology based on combustion/nondispersive infrared gas analysis.
The instrument analyzes:
· Total organic carbon in the range of 4 ppb to 4000 ppm
· Inorganic carbon
· Total carbon

Contact:
Mr. Ezra Amit
+972-8-6477198
ezram@bgu.ac.il

Analytical Unit
The Analytical Unit is equipped with the conventional standard equipment (polarimeter, FT-IR spectrometer, rheometer, tensiometer, and contact-angle meter) and the advanced instrumentation described below.

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization - Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF)

Contact:
Dr. M. Karpasas
+972-8-6479014/7187
karpasas@bgu.ac.il

Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS)

Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS) facilitates qualitative and quantitative analysis of compounds with m/z up to 3,000 Da. Semipolar and polar
organic compounds, including peptides, saccharides, esters, organic acids, alcohols and phenols, can be analyzed with the Unit's LC/MS system comprising an Agilent 1100 chromatograph with a Bruker Esquire 3000 plus LC-MS(n) ion-trap detector and a SEDEX 75 evaporative light-scattering detector.

Contact:
Mr. Y. Gilboa
+972-8-6477190
ygelboa@bgu.ac.il

Size-Exclusion Chromatography/ Multi-Angle Laser Light Scattering (SEC/MALLS)

Size-Exclusion Chromatography/Multi-Angle Laser Light Scattering (SEC/MALLS) is used for the determination of absolute molecular weights and size distribution (>2,000 Da) of compounds such as carbohydrates, polymers, proteins, DNA, RNA and other large molecules soluble in water or organic solvents. Our SEC system comprises a PSS SUPREMA guard column, a TSK-GEL PWXL protection column and PSS SUPREMA or TSK-GEL SW/PW serial analytical GPC columns. It is coupled on-line to a Wyatt DAWN DSP MALLS photometer and a Wyatt Optilab DSP differential refractive index detector.

An Astra v-4.7 software package is used for calculating the molecular weight (Mw, Mn, Mz) and the radius of gyration (Rg) from the extrapolation of the light scattered to zero-angle at each “slice” according to the Debye, Berry, Zimm or random coil fit methods.

Contact:
Dr. M. Karpasas
+972-8-6479014/7187
karpasas@bgu.ac.il

	High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is applied for the isolation and analysis of natural and synthetic organic materials.

Preparative chromatographic analyses are performed in the Unit on a Waters DeltaPrep 4000 HPLC equipped with multi-angle UV/vis, refractive index and evaporative light-scattering detectors. The set-up includes a 150 mL/min pump and permits column loading capability up to 500 mg.

The analytical HPLC is an Agilent 1100 instrument, equipped with PDA and fluorescence detectors.

Contact:
Mr. Y. Gilboa
+972-8-6477190
ygelboa@bgu.ac.il

Gas Chromatography (GC)

Gas Chromatography (GC) for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds is performed on the Unit's HP 6890 GC equipped with a flame ionization detector.

Contact:
Mr. Y. Gilboa
+972-8-6477190
ygelboa@bgu.ac.il

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is applied for the separation and identification of a variety of organic compounds. The Unit's Agilent 6890N GC is
connected to an Agilent 5973N single-quadrupole mass-selective detector. The instrument is equipped with a 100-vial autosampler, an NIST02 MS Library (includes 175,000 spectra for 147,000 compounds) and an ACD Labs MS Manager (software package for mass-spectra interpretation and structure elucidation). The mass spectrometer can be operated in EI and positive and negative CI modes.

Contact:
Mr. Y. Gilboa
+972-8-6477190
ygelboa@bgu.ac.il

Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) Microscopy & Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR)

Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) Microscopy & Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) Spectroscopy are applied for:

· Qualitative determination of functional groups in solids and liquids
· IR determinations in transmission and reflection modes
· IR analysis of heterogeneous samples
· Automatic IR mapping of samples Identification of functional groups in thin (down to unimolecular) films and determination of secondary structures of proteins in the solid state

The latter analyses are facilitated by the variable angle vertical ATR accessory to the Center's Equinox 55 spectrometer, which is coupled to an Bruker IRscope II microscope.

Contact:
Dr. V. Erukhimovitch
+972-8-6479004
evitaly@bgu.ac.il

Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectropolarimetry

Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectropolarimetry is applied to obtain information on the secondary structure of optically active biological macromolecules – proteins, polypeptides, polysaccharides and nucleic acids – in solution. The Unit's JASCO J-71 spectropolarimeter is provided with the appropriate computer programs.

Contact:
Dr. V. Erukhimovitch
+972-8-6479004
evitaly@bgu.ac.il

The Unit handles all aspects of preparation of biological specimens, operation of the microscopes, photography, and production of publication-quality prints.

Zeiss Axioplan 2 fluorescence microscope

Light microscopy is performed in the Unit on a Zeiss Axioplan 2 fluorescence microscope equipped with a Zeiss film camera, a video camera, and a high-resolution digital camera (Diagnostic Instruments SPOT).

Contact:
Dr. V. Erukhimovitch
+972-8-6479004
evitaly@bgu.ac.il

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy is used for obtaining high-resolution images and three-dimensional reconstructions of a variety of biological specimens. The Unit's Zeiss LSM 510 instrument, equipped with a helium/neon laser, four confocal
channels, and a fully motorized microscope (Zeiss Axiovert 100), enables multi-tracking scanning, multi-dimensional image processing functions, and time lapse imaging for kinetic studies.

In the future, the Unit plans to provide services on a JEOL JSM-5610LV scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a JEOL JSM-1230 transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Contact:
Dr. V. Erukhimovitch
+972-8-6479004
evitaly@bgu.ac.il

High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD)

High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) with the Laboratory’s Rigaku-Bede X-ray diffraction system facilitates:
· Investigations of wide variety of materials, including powders, polycrystalline materials, nanoparticles (e.g. catalysts) and nanostructures (thin films, multilayered structures and surfaces),
· Residual stress measurements in bulk materials (composites) and thin coatings.

Contact:
Dr. Dimitri Moghilianski
+972-8-6461236

SEM

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) facilitates an understanding of the microstructure of the surface of solid materials. In combination with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), SEM also provides quantitative elemental analysis. SEM finds application in a wide diversity of fields, e.g., detection of faults in printed circuits, metal failure analysis, quality control of chemical and pharmaceutical products, analysis of porous structure of polymers and inorganic materials, studies of the surface structure of biological materials, control of environmental pollution, and forensic studies
The Unit`s Quanta 200, FEI SEM, equipped with a back-scattering detector and an EDS, is a state-of-the-art analytical tool that provides:
· Micrographs at magnifications of ´7-1,000,000 (in both high- and low-vacuum modes)
· Nondistorted micrographs of nonconductive samples (low-vacuum and ESEM™ modes)
· Micrographs of damp materials (ESEM™ mode)
· Elemental analysis from boron upwards (with EDS)

Contact:
Ms. Aviva Kiriati
+972-8-6461244
kiriaty@bgu.ac.il

X-ray diffraction (XRD)

X-ray diffraction (XRD) (with monochromatic X-ray radiation) is applied for the analysis of both amorphous and crystalline substances.
The Laboratory`s Philips model PW-1050/70 diffractometer enables determination of:
· Crystalline phases (qualitative and quantitative)
· New crystal structures
· Amorphous phase in polymers and composite materials
· Crystal size and strains
· Residual austenite

Contact:
Ms. Shoshana Lah
+972-8-6461236
lach@bgu.ac.il

X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
Laboratory: XRD - XRF
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a non-destructive technique applied for qualitative and quantitative determination of the elemental composition of various substances in powder, solid, or liquid form. Elements from sodium up to the end of the periodic table may be determined. The Laboratory`s Philips model PW-1410 provides a detection limits of a few parts per million.

Contact:
Dr. Alexander Erenburg
+972-8-6461236