Instrumentation

Research Capacity

Dr. Bressler’s laboratory at the University of Alberta is extremely well-equipped to support a variety of research projects under the umbrella of biorefining conversions and fermentations.  The laboratory boasts extensive analytical capacity including GCs with an array of detectors and a GC-MS, HPLC with DAD and RID, Rapid Resolution LC, and a microplate reader. 

A major feature of the lab is a fermentation suite comprised of twelve 5L and four 10L bench-scale bioreactors and five shaking incubators.  The suite is supported by a full-time technician.  The lab also houses a full molecular biology suite, a custom-built pyrolysis reactor, nanomembrane bioreactor, anaerobic chamber, and microscopes with phase contrast and digital image capture capability. 

Scale-up and engineering support by the Bio-Industrial Technologies Division of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (stationed at the University of Alberta’s Agri-Food Discovery Place) also enhances the research capacity of his group.

Additional Instruments

Name Description
Smoke Point Analyzer Koehler Smoke Point Lamb. Determine the smoke point of fuels following ASTM D1322; ISO 3014; IP 57 etc.
Mini Distillation Unit Mini Spinning Band Distillation system/M690. Sinning band distillation unit with 45 and 90 cm column heights providing up to 100 theoretical plates. Temperature up to 400°C with the metal band. Vacuum capable with a two stage vacuum pump(1 - 100 mmHg). Automated with temperature, pressure, reflux ratio and heating rate settings and data logging.
Microwave Reactor Custom made to order. High temperature high pressure custom microwave reactor with working temperature of 500°C at 1000psi. Has two magnetrons: a 2.45GHz at 2kW and a 5.8Ghz at 700W.
Microreactor/Sandbath System GC/Clarus 690 MS/Clarus SQ8T. Gas chromatograph with single quad mass spectrometer. Set with simultaneous FID and MS data acquisition for peak identification and quantification on single runs.
5L Bioreactor System Minifor F1. Versatile bioreactors that can be modified to perform different fermentation strategies. Real time monitoring of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen etc. There are 12 units, which are independently controlled and monitored.
10L Bioreactor System Biostat B plus. Versatile bioreactors that can be modified to perform different fermentation strategies. Real time monitoring of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen etc. There are two units each with two 10L bioreactor which are independently controlled and monitored.