How...

• If your samples are stable, bring them to room WTHR 242, fill out the request forms and leave your samples there.

• If you have air-, moisture-, or temperature-sensitive samples, make an appointment first and set a date to have them run.

• After analyzing your samples, reports will be sent to your mailbox by campus mail or if necessary, you will be asked to come and pick up the reports and the left-over samples.

• Call Dr. Lee(494-5308) or send him an e-mail if you have questions.

Sample Size...

• 2.5 to 5 mg is required for carbon, hydrogen, and/or nitrogen determinations. The amount just indicated is the amount that can be transferred from your sample container to our combustion boat. This means if your sample is an oil or a liquid, you need to submit more.

• Amount of a sample needed for the analysis of each of the other elements depends on the kind and the % content of that particular element in the sample. The range could go from milligrams to hundreds of milligrams. Check with Dr. Lee for the answer.

Sample Preparation...

• Pure samples: They should be well purified and are free from solvent, moisture, or any other outside substance, unless you want the contribution from these impurities to be included in the analysis reports.

• Heterogeneous samples such as coal and other similar samples: Make sure the samples are ground and well mixed. They should look homogenous in appearance. Moisture and solvent in your samples should be removed to avoid erroneous data acquisition.

• Unstable samples: Sealed in small airtight tubings -- each tubing for each analysis of C/H, and/or N, or for each other element. Before you submit this type of samples, make sure you have made an appointment to run your samples on the pre-arranged date.