Laboratory dedicated to the maintenance of active strains of algae under the daily supervision of a student assistant. AlgaFuelTM pilot pond with vertical and horizontal agitation of 10 cubic meters for the intensive cultivation of microalgae in industrial waste water for energy purposes. This basin is configured to ensure perfect homogenization of the algal suspension and maximize the productivity of microalgae in terms of cell density (and generally oils) under predominantly heterotrophic culture conditions. The basin can be used for the treatment of wastewater by microalgae. The basin has recently been equipped with a Bio-Intelligence probe for advanced monitoring of cell growth and the production of various metabolites by microalgae.
Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry laboratoryThe laboratory is equipped with a four-laser LSRFortessa cytometer that allows high-level multiparametric analyzes to characterize cell populations. A BD FACS Calibur two-laser cytometer is used to perform routine analyzes such as the expression of surface markers. The Zeiss LSM780 confocal microscopy system is a state-of-the-art instrument for the study of various cellular and subcellular biological processes such as intracellular trafficking and localization of pathogen molecules.
The Laboratory for Ecotoxicogenomics and Endocrine Disruption (LEPE) brings together the expertise, knowledge, infrastructure and instrumentation necessary to test the effects of contaminants on the health of living organisms. The experiments are carried out in the laboratory, in microcosm, in mesocosm and in the field. The team is developing unique biomarkers for each target species in order to understand and validate the mechanisms of action of contaminants. The group also specializes in the study of endocrine disruptors and has, among other things, ultra-sensitive cell lines that identify contaminants capable of altering the hormonal response.
This pilot laboratory provides the scientific community and industry with its multidisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art equipment for the development and scaling of fermentation processes as well as the recovery, purification and characterization of various microbial derivatives. Its primary purpose is R & D in the field of biotechnology, and especially value-added products using putrescible residues as raw material.
The researchers at the Environmental Engineering Laboratory are tasked with acquiring knowledge to improve the quality of the environment. In particular, they work in two major areas of research, namely the development of innovative environmental technologies for the rehabilitation of contaminated environments, and the characterization of contaminated environments.
Microbiology laboratory equipped with 2 Labfors 7L bioreactors, a Luxfors 3,5L photobioreactor, a Terrafors 10L solid fermentor, a DIC microscope, a GC, a Dionex IC-5000 and a Beckman Coulter FC-500 flow cytometer. It is also possible, through this laboratory, to have access to the pilot ozonator of the Research Center for lignocellulosic materials at the UQTR and to the Innofibre pilot workshop of the Cégep de Trois-Rivières which include various tanks and high capacity mixers for chemical and biochemical treatments of all kinds (max operating temperature of 220C). A 600-ml pressurized reactor dedicated to hydrothermal liquefaction of wet biomass is also available.
The BioEngine laboratory in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Université Laval includes high-end equipment and pilots for resource recovery from waste materials and polluted water. It includes methanogenic potential reactors (BMP), semi-continuous biomethanization reactors in 1, 2 or 3 phases, composting and controlled aerobic conditioning reactors, a fluidized bed granulator, a pilot for phosphorus recovery by adsorption, a nitrogen recovery set-up by stripping and absorption, a membrane bioreactor, a measurement station for real-time monitoring of physicochemical and biological parameters, as well as equipment for characterizing water and residual organic matter.
Analysis of trace metals in liquid or solid samples (biological tissues, suspended matter, sediments, soils) and bio-optical analysis. Research focuses on the path of toxic metals in the food chain, the bioavailability of contaminants, the impacts of anthropogenic activities and the assessment of the sensitivity of the natural environment. The main equipment is as follows: Particle and radioactivity counters (beta and gamma emissions); Atomic and mass emission spectrometers, by inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES and ICP-MS); Liquid, gas and ion chromatography devices (HPLC, LC-MS-MS, GC, GC-MS); ICP-MS coupled to an HPLC; Mercury analyzer.
The microanalysis laboratory offers the scientific community, businesses and industry a characterization service for natural and synthetic materials. The laboratory operates a CAMECA SX-100 electronic microprobe and a JEOL 840-A scanning electron microscope (SEM). The laboratory also operates a Siemens D5000 X-ray diffractometer.
The MiCEL laboratory specializes in the molecular and metagenomic analysis of microbial communities present in water management infrastructure.
The laboratory is capable of performing various analyses using DNA and RNA present in environmental samples including: PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis and quantification, in situ fluorescence microscopy Hybridization of 16S RNA (FISH), high throughput amplicon sequencing to analyze phylogenetic and functional diversity of communities, and metagenomic sequencing (shotgun sequencing).
