Our Equipment

World-class Equipment and Knowledge

Our Equipment

The Agricultural Analysis Laboratory is part of the Agri-Food Research and Development Unit in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (URDAAT) which maintains large laboratories shared with faculty members and UQAT research teams. These university laboratories are equipped with all the equipment required for analytical chemistry.

Complete List of Equipment

Members of the academic community interested in obtaining the complete list of laboratory equipment can contact us by visiting the "contact us" section.

Near Infrared Spectrometer (NIR)

FOSS analytical – NIRS™ DS2500 Flour Analyser

The UQAT Agricultural Analysis Laboratory is equipped with a state-of-the-art NIR device. This device makes it possible to quickly and inexpensively estimate the nutritional characteristics of a multitude of products, such as: forages, cereals, grains, etc.

It only needs the samples to be dried and ground so that it can be analyzed with the device. The computer then estimates the nutritional values of the sample using databases developed by our partner, Dairyland Laboratories. When more precise measurements are required, the laboratory analysis will be available in the future.

To know the range of foods for which it is possible to obtain a NIR analysis, please consult the “Services” tab.

ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy)

Agilent 5110 DV

The UQAT Agricultural Analysis Laboratory is equipped with the latest generation of ICP-OES, a technology that measures minerals especially in soils and plants.

It stands out by its ability to quickly analyze the most difficult samples of agricultural customers, this device meets the highest demands of university academics.

It enables the following analyses to be carried out:

  • Analysis of minerals in soils
  • Analysis of minerals in plant tissues

Elemental Analyzer

Elementar – varioMAXcube

The Agricultural Analysis Laboratory of UQAT has an elemental analysis device for carbon, nitrogen and sulfur.

Equipped with an oven that can reach 1150°C, the device burns the samples and then analyses the gases which escape from it. This results in a very accurate reading of the total carbon, nitrogen and sulfur content in the sample.

This device can be used to perform the following analyses:

  • Total analysis of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur in soils
  • Total analysis of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur in plants
  • Analysis of total proteins in plants by combustion

Spectrophotometer

Shimadzu – 1900UV

This device allows the analysis of coloured solution and interprets the intensity of the colour. Some elements like phosphorus, give a very strong colour when put in the presence of certain chemicals. Thus, as an example, it is possible to determine the amount of phosphorus contained in the sample, depending on the intensity of the colour.

The spectrophotometer allows the analysis of several other elements. Colorimentry defines the beggining of agronomic analysis. Although this is an older technology, it is a proven method that is used in several analytical laboratories around the world. Nevertheless, the spectrophotometer is called to give way gradually to new technologies.

It enables the following analyses to be carried out:

  • Phosphorus analysis by colorimetry
  • Nitrate analysis