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Analytical
Research Services & Instrumentation Unit
About | Facilities
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Analytical
Laboratory |
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
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Genetics
Laboratory – New Campus, Bld. 39 |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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NanoDropTM
ND-1000 Spectrophotometer |
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.
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T1000 Automated
Tepnel Purification System |
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
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ICP -
AES Laboratory |
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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
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ICP -
MS Laboratory |
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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
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Instrumental
Laboratory |
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Instrumental
Laboratory – New Campus, Bld. 39 |
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.
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Matrix-Assisted Laser
Desorption Ionization -
Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) |
Spectrometry with the Unit's Bruker Reflex IV instrument
is used for the detection and characterization of:
· Biopolymers (such as peptides, proteins, oligosaccharides
and nucleotides) · Synthetic polymers
· Organic molecules (>500 da), especially
in mixtures and crude samples
It also provides structural information, such as peptide
mapping and carbohydrate se
quencing.With this technique, samples as small as sub-picomolar
and even femtomolar amounts may be analyzed with mass
accuracy and precision in the range of 0.002-0.1%, even
in the presence of common contaminants, such as salts
and buffers.
Contact:
Dr. M. Karpasas
+972-8-6479014/7187
karpasas@bgu.ac.il
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Microscopy
Laboratory – New Campus, Bld. 39 |
The Unit handles all aspects of preparation of biological
specimens, operation of the microscopes, photography,
and production of publication-quality prints.
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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).
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
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New XRD
Laboratory |
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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
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SEM -
EDAX Laboratory |
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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
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XRD -
XRF Laboratory |
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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
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Additional
Equipment |
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Spectrofluorometer |
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Rheometer |
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Tensiometer |
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Polarimeter |
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Lyophilizer |
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Millipore -- HPLC-grade
water system |
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Continuous centrifuge
{CARR Powerfuge} |
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