Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Waterloo
$94,550.00
Microwave digestion system and carbon-sulfur determinator for petroleum geochemistry and paleoceanography research
FY 2012-13
Summary
A microwave digestion system and carbon-sulfur determinator will support development of a new research program in petroleum geochemistry and paleoceanography at the University of Waterloo.
Microwave digestion with a Milestone UltraWAVE system at high pressure and temperature is ideal for complete acid dissolution of difficult-to-dissolve oil or rock samples. Up to fifteen samples can be processed simultaneously in <1 hour. Samples will then be analyzed for their multi-element abundances or metal isotope compositions (such as molybdenum and copper). This research aims to develop metal isotope systems as geochemical tools for oil-oil and oil-source rock correlations, with the goal of improving genetic modeling and exploration of Canadian petroleum systems, including the less-developed northern regions. Furthermore, the UltraWAVE system is also suitable for dissolution of rock, environmental, food, clinical, and pharmaceutical samples, and for materials and consumer products testing, and will support other Canadian research programs.
Paleoceanography research will be supported by an Eltra Helios carbon-sulfur determinator, which enables rapid, precise, and accurate measurement of the sulfur and organic carbon content of organic-rich sedimentary rocks. Redox-sensitive metal abundances (such as molybdenum, rhenium, uranium, and copper) must be corrected for variable organic carbon content before using sediment data to infer dissolved seawater metal concentrations and the extent of oxygen-rich versus oxygen-poor conditions in ancient oceans. Studies of past ocean redox conditions require the analysis of sediments deposited beneath sulfidic waters, which can be verified by high sulfur and organic carbon content in sediments. This research will explore the co-evolution of Earth surface oxygenation, metal biogeochemical cycles, and life through geologic time. Other Canadian researchers will have access to the carbon-sulfur determinator for analysis of various materials.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
439302-2013
Name nom
Kendall, Brian
Department département
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Organization id
33
Institution établissement
University of Waterloo
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2012
Competition year année de concours
2013
Award amount
94550
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1506
Committee name en
Geosciences
Committee name fr
Géosciences
Area of application code
1203
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Earth sciences
Area of application fr
Sciences de la terre
Research subject code
4200
Research subject group en
Geochemistry and geochronology
Research subject group fr
Géochimie et géochronologie
Research subject en
Geochemistry and geochronology
Research subject fr
Géochimie et géochronologie
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Microwave digestion system and carbon-sulfur determinator for petroleum geochemistry and paleoceanography research
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
A microwave digestion system and carbon-sulfur determinator will support development of a new research program in petroleum geochemistry and paleoceanography at the University of Waterloo.
Microwave digestion with a Milestone UltraWAVE system at high pressure and temperature is ideal for complete acid dissolution of difficult-to-dissolve oil or rock samples. Up to fifteen samples can be processed simultaneously in <1 hour. Samples will then be analyzed for their multi-element abundances or metal isotope compositions (such as molybdenum and copper). This research aims to develop metal isotope systems as geochemical tools for oil-oil and oil-source rock correlations, with the goal of improving genetic modeling and exploration of Canadian petroleum systems, including the less-developed northern regions. Furthermore, the UltraWAVE system is also suitable for dissolution of rock, environmental, food, clinical, and pharmaceutical samples, and for materials and consumer products testing, and will support other Canadian research programs.
Paleoceanography research will be supported by an Eltra Helios carbon-sulfur determinator, which enables rapid, precise, and accurate measurement of the sulfur and organic carbon content of organic-rich sedimentary rocks. Redox-sensitive metal abundances (such as molybdenum, rhenium, uranium, and copper) must be corrected for variable organic carbon content before using sediment data to infer dissolved seawater metal concentrations and the extent of oxygen-rich versus oxygen-poor conditions in ancient oceans. Studies of past ocean redox conditions require the analysis of sediments deposited beneath sulfidic waters, which can be verified by high sulfur and organic carbon content in sediments. This research will explore the co-evolution of Earth surface oxygenation, metal biogeochemical cycles, and life through geologic time. Other Canadian researchers will have access to the carbon-sulfur determinator for analysis of various materials.
