Research

Research Infrastructures

Geothermal Open Laboratory


The research conducted at the Geothermal Open Laboratory is aimed at gaining better understanding of underground heat transfer and flow phenomena for reducing technical risks of geothermal energy. It is an open access laboratory, modeled after open-source software.

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Québec, Québec
Contact person
Félix-Antoine Comeau, Responsable du laboratoire
felix-antoine.comeau@ete.inrs.ca, 418 654-2652
Associated axes :
  • Axis Water Availability
    Theme 1: Integrated quantity and quality simulations
  • Axis Water Availability
    Theme 2: Hydrometeorological regime under climate
More info de Geothermal Open Laboratory

INRS-IAF's equipment


• Ionic Chromatograph • Gas and liquid chromatographs • Mass spectrometers • Level 2 Laboratory for Bacteria

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Laval, Québec
Contact person
Eric Déziel, Professor
eric.deziel@iaf.inrs.ca, 450 687-5010
Associated axes :
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 2: Water uses for primary production
  • Transversal axis: Governance and management
    Theme 2: Risks and disrupters of governance

Laboratory for the analysis of metal assimilation and detoxification mechanisms in freshwater organisms


This infrastructure measures trace elements in a wide variety of natural matrices ranging from water or soil samples to cellular fractions of living organisms. The laboratory includes: 1) a quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled to an inductive plasma (ICP-MS) 2) a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) 3) an ultracentrifuge 4) two radiation counters (gamma counter and liquid scintillation counter)

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Québec (Québec)
Contact person
Claude Fortin, Professor
claude.fortin@ete.inrs.ca, 418 654-3770
More info de Laboratory for the analysis of metal assimilation and detoxification mechanisms in freshwater organisms

Laboratory for the hydrogeology of contaminants


This laboratory is used in particular to carry out research work on understanding the environmental fate of energetic materials. The laboratory consists of two experimental pans, the size of which makes it possible to carry out restoration experiments similar to field conditions, but under controlled experimental conditions. These tanks can contain 4 to 9 m3 of soil from contaminated sites or clean soils to which specific contaminants can be added.

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Valcartier, Québec
Contact person
Richard Martel, Professor
richard.martel@ete.inrs.ca, 418 654-2683
Associated axes :
  • Transversal axis: Governance and management
    Theme 2: Risks and disrupters of governance
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 2: Water uses for primary production
More info de Laboratory for the hydrogeology of contaminants

Laboratory of Environmental Electrotechnologies and Oxidative Processes (LEEPO)


This laboratory aims to develop electrolytic techniques and oxidative processes to improve municipal and industrial wastewater treatment systems or replace conventional low efficiency technologies to remove refractory, inorganic and microbial organic contaminants. It includes 4 facilities: a) Laboratory treatment and control units, b) Analytical instrumentation units, c) Assembly of units, storage of reagents, installation ovens and scales, d) Heavy lab (pre-industrial pilot unit).

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Québec, Québec
Contact person
Patrick Drogui, Professor
patrick.drogui@ete.inrs.ca, 418 654-3119
Associated axis :
  • Transversal axis: Governance and management
    Theme 2: Risks and disrupters of governance
More info de Laboratory of Environmental Electrotechnologies and Oxidative Processes (LEEPO)

Laboratory of hydraulic management of drinking water distribution networks


This laboratory consists of a physical model of a municipal drinking water distribution network aimed at better management of these networks. The infrastructure replicates a typical sector of a municipal drinking water system. The pipes are about 2/3 of the actual diameter and pressure of a real network. The network is equipped with numerous sensors (flow, pressure, conductivity), pressure regulators, isolation valves and faucets (to simulate water usage or leaks) that are all connected to a central computer system . The assembly is designed to be more versatile.

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Québec, Québec
Contact person
Sophie Duchesne, Professor
patrick.drogui@ete.inrs.ca, 418 654-3776
Associated axis :
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 1: Water needs and uses of cities
More info de Laboratory of hydraulic management of drinking water distribution networks

Mass spectrometer


A mass spectrometry service is offered to the scientific community for the identification of organic molecules, the analysis of natural products, the quantification of metabolites of pharmaceutical products, the analysis of trace pollutants, the determination of the molecular weight of proteins, the sequencing of peptides. The service includes, among others, a Micromass Quattro II triple quadrupole equipped with gas and liquid chromatography interfaces. It can be operated in positive and negative mode and carry out a mass scan up to 4000 m / z. The mass spectrometry service can perform a variety of MS / MS experiments such as daughter ion, parent ion and neutral fragment loss analysis. Various ionization modes such as electronic impact (EI), chemical ionization (CI), chemical ionization at atmospheric pressure (APCI), electrospray and nanospray can be used. It has an interface for gas chromatography with an HP 6890 gas chromatograph and an interface for HPLC HP 1100 liquid chromatography equipped with an automatic injector and a UV detector.

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Québec
Contact person
Annie Castonguay, Responsable
annie.castonguay@inrs.ca, 450-687-5010, 8850
Associated axes :
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 1: Water needs and uses of cities
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 2: Water uses for primary production
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 3: Water use in secondary production
More info de Mass spectrometer

Measurement of Trace Metals in Samples from Aquatic Environments Laboratory


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.

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Québec, Québec
Contact person
Stéfane Prémont, Laboratory Manager
stefane.premont@ete.inrs.ca, 418 654-2537
Associated axis :
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 3: Water use in secondary production
More info de Measurement of Trace Metals in Samples from Aquatic Environments Laboratory

Transmission electron microscope


The service is able to meet several needs in the animal, plant or microbial fields, including: • Research and identification of viruses from all sources; • Research and identification (Gram-positive or Gram-negative) and description of bacteria from all sources • Research and identification of contaminants (eg mycoplasma) in clinical specimens or cell cultures • Immunoelectromicroscopy with or without colloidal gold on a liquid sample (negative staining) or on cell sections (pre- or post-embedding techniques) • Quality control of viral fractions of density gradients • Cell morphology on thin sections • Quantification of viruses (eg Retrovirus) using latex spheres of known concentration by negative staining. • Quality control of biological products released to municipal sewage • Research of Retrovirus in cells, identification and count of the proportion of infected cells (cell sections)

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Laval, Québec
Contact person
Charles Dozois, Professor
charles.dozois@iaf.inrs.ca, 450 687-5010, ext. 4388
Associated axes :
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 1: Water needs and uses of cities
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 2: Water uses for primary production
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 3: Water use in secondary production
  • Transversal axis: Governance and management
    Theme 2: Risks and disrupters of governance

Water Sciences Shared Services Laboratories


These laboratories make it possible to analyze water samples by colorimetry, fluorometry, spectroscopy, radioisotopy and chromatography, as well as to analyze organic compounds and trace metals present in different matrices (water, effluents, sewage sludge, soils, sediments, biological tissues), and finally, to analyze the elements present in solid samples (rocks, soils, sediments, sludge). X-ray microfluorescence scanning: Non-destructive x-ray analyzes coupled with chemical X-ray fluorescence analysis of rocks, soils and sediments. Scanning electron microscopy: Production of high resolution images of the surface and composition of a sample using technology using electron-matter interactions.

Institution
  • Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location
Québec, Québec
Contact person
Stéfane Prémont, Laboratories manager
stefane.premont@ete.inrs.ca, 418 654-2537
Associated axes :
  • Transversal axis: Governance and management
    Theme 2: Risks and disrupters of governance
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 2: Water uses for primary production
  • Axis Uses of water
    Theme 3: Water use in secondary production
More info de Water Sciences Shared Services Laboratories
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