Collaboration with industrial and other partners
Besides the program and project research work, the members of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory team also carry out (long- and short-term) contract work for industrial and other partners. This includes development, adaptation and optimisation of analytial methods and chemical analyses, for which partners need specialized expertise and/or appropriate instrumentation, as well as consulting and training in all fields of the Laboratory's activities. We are conducting this kind of cooperation with several tens of large, medium and small companies, govermental and other public and private institutions and groups as well as with individuals expressing such an interest.
In the framework of such cooperations we perform:
- Elemental analysis of all kinds of samples/materials (environmental, industrial, biological, agricultural, etc.) using modern instrumental techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass and atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-MS and ICP-AES) including several types of sample dissolution protocols (e.g. microwave-assisted digestion, fusion, etc.). The elemental analysis encompasses the determination of practically all elements of the periodic table (except carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen) at concentrations from ultratrace (sub-ppb) to macrocomponent (%) level.
- Determination of anions and cations using ion exchange chromatography (e.g. chloride, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, ammonium, etc.) or ion selective electrodes (fluoride).
- Characterisation of inorganic fibers in suspended solid particles using scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX).
- Electroanalysis (stripping voltametry) including microanalysis using microelectrodes and sensors.
- Selected chemical speciation analysis using hyphenated analytical systems (e.g. liquid chromatography - ICP-MS).
With the recently obtained state-of-the-art laser ablation - ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) analytical system we can perform direct solid sampling of multifarious inorganic and organic materials using a laser microbeam (with diameter ranging from 4 to 250 mm) with subsequent real-time elemental detection by means of ICP-MS. The LA-ICP-MS capabilities enable us to perform practically non-destructive microanalyses with high spatial resolution (for surface mapping and depth profiling) in the low μg/g range for most elements of the periodic table. The merits of this advanced equipment, the only one of its kind in Slovenia, have already been recognized and proven in many fields, e.g. new materials synthesis and application, environmental analysis, geology, conservation and archeology, biology and botanics, forensics, metallurgy, etc.).
Our staff scientists and technicians are well trained, experienced, skilled and capable of dealing with diverse analytical and chemical characterization problems. We therefore invite all who are interested in our work and potential cooperation to contact us for further information and details.
Contact persons:
Dr. Bojan Budič; e: bojan.budic(at)ki.si, t: +386 1 4760359, f: +386 1 4760300
Dr. Božidar Ogorevc; e: bogorevc(at)ki.si, t: +386 1 4760230, f: +386 1 4760300
