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Services & Infrastructure

CERES Facilities:

CERES provides a set of services:

Analyses -Techniques	Model	Specifications
Gas Chromatography (GC)	Tremetics 9001	Quantifies and identifies the various components of a liquid or gaseous mixture, depending on the type of column. Columns: DB1, DB225, DB5MS, BPX5, DBWax, CPSil5CB=DB1, CPSil8CB=DB5. FID detector
Gas Chromatography (GC)	Hewlett Packard Series II 5890	Quantifies and identifies the various components of a liquid or gaseous mixture, depending on the type of column. Columns: DB1, DB225, DB5MS, BPX5, DBWax, CPSil5CB=DB1, CPSil8CB=DB5. FID detector
Gas Chromatography (GC)	Finnigan 9001	Quantifies and identifies the various components of a liquid or gaseous mixture. FID and TCD detector
Mass Spectrometry / Gas Chromatography (GC/MS)	Agilent Technologies 7890A GC System, 5975C Triple Axis Detector	Provides detailed information on the chemical composition of different types of samples. Quantifies and identifies the various components of a liquid or gaseous mixture, depending on the type of column. Columns: DB1MS, DB5MS. Detectors FID and MS
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)	Shimadzu UFLC Pump- LC 20AD; Degaser DGU 20A5; Auto Sampler SIL 20ACHT; Column Oven CTO 10ASUP; Detectors: Refractive Index Detector RID 10A, Diode Array Detector SPD M20A, Low Temperature Evaporative Light Scatering Detector ELSD-LT II	Used to separate, identify and quantify the components of a liquid sample. Detectors: Refractive Index Detector RID, Diode Array Detector SPD, Low Temperature Evaporative Light Scatering
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)	Waters 2695 Separation Module	Used to separate, identify and quantify the components of a liquid sample. Coupled with Waters 2487 Dual (lambda) Absorbance detector
Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR); MID-IR e NIR-IR regions	PerkinElmer	It is a powerful tool for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of samples, providing valuable information about their molecular composition and structure.
Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)	Jasco FT-IR 4200	It is a powerful tool for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of samples, providing valuable information about their molecular composition and structure.
Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis)	Jasco V-530	It is a versatile analytical technique that is widely used due to its simplicity, speed and sensitivity. This technique is used to analyse the absorption of ultraviolet and visible light by a substance, identifying and quantifying the various compounds present in a sample.
Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis)	T60 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer	It is a versatile analytical technique that is widely used due to its simplicity, speed and sensitivity. This technique is used to analyse the absorption of ultraviolet and visible light by a substance, identifying and quantifying the various compounds present in a sample.
Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis)	PG Instruments	It is a versatile analytical technique that is widely used due to its simplicity, speed and sensitivity. This technique is used to analyse the absorption of ultraviolet and visible light by a substance, identifying and quantifying the various compounds present in a sample. Range 190-800nm.
Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis)	Jasco V-650	Possibility of carrying out three analyses: - antioxidant activity of natural compounds using the coupled reaction of beta-carotene with linolenic acid; - quantification of total phenolics using the Folin-Ciocalteau method; - anti-inflammatory activity of natural compounds using the enzymatic method of inactivating the lipoxygenase enzyme. All the tests require the extract to be ready and pure, with a minimum mass of 300 mg for each technique. The kinetics of the antioxidant and inflammatory activities can be carried out for up to 24 hours, and the data is offered already treated as a percentage of inhibition of oxidation and inhibition of inflammation. In the case of quantifying phenolic compounds, the data is presented as a function of equivalents (in mass) to a phenolic standard found in the extract in question.
Integrating sphere	Jasco ISV-722	The integrating sphere, coupled to a Jasco V650 spectrophotometer, works in the visible and ultraviolet and allows you to measure the total integrated reflectance of surfaces, diffuse reflectance and specular reflectance in solids. In other words, a UV-VIS spectrophotometer, generally used for analysing liquids, can also be used on solid samples.
Microplate Reader	Synergy HTX	System for 6 to 384 well microplates. Performance for UV-Vis absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence
Elemental Analysis (EA)	NC Technologies, ECS 8040 CHNS-O	Quantifies the total nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and sulphur in a liquid or solid sample.
Karl Fischer	831KF Coulometer Metrohm with 860KF Thermoprep; 890 Titrando	Analytical method for determining the water content in a sample

Analyses -Techniques	Model	Specifications
Modular Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC)	TA Instruments, Discovery series DSC25	Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measures the heat flow variation between the sample and the reference when subjected to a temperature programme in a controlled atmosphere. This technique is used to study thermal transitions, such as phase transitions, melting, crystallisation, chemical reactions, among others. In modulated DSC (MDSC), it is possible to separate the total heat flow into kinetic and thermodynamic (Cp) components using temperature modulation technology (a sinusoidal temperature programme is superimposed on the conventional linear temperature profile).
Specific Heat Capacity Measurements Using MDSC	TA Instruments, Discovery series DSC25	In modulated DSC (MDSC), it is possible to separate the total heat flow into kinetic and thermodynamic (Cp) components using temperature modulation technology (a sinusoidal temperature programme is superimposed on the conventional linear temperature profile).
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)	TA Instruments, TGA Q500	In TGA differents components of a sample may suffer decomposition, volatilization, oxidation, or other reactions at specific temperatures, leading to changes in mass. By monitoring these changes, we can gain insights into the composition, thermal stability, and reaction kinetics of the sample.
Simultaneous Differential Thermal Analysis (SDT)	TA Instruments, TGA Q600	Simultaneous Differential Thermal Analysis (SDT) is a thermal analysis technique that combines both DSC and TGA simultaneously, allowing a more comprehensive understanding of the thermal behavior of a sample. This combined approach is particularly useful in studying materials that undergo both chemical reactions and changes in mass during heating or cooling.
Thermal Constants Analyzer	Hot Disk, Modelo TPS 2500 S	Determines the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and heat capacity of (non-granular) solids in the temperature range -20 ºC to 180 ºC.

Analyses -Techniques	Model	Specifications
Inverse Gas Chromatography	Dani GC1000 DPC	Determination of surface energy dispersive components and acid-base surface parameters. Determination of surface properties of solids (films, fibres and powders of crystalline and amorphous structures)
Surface Tension		Measurements of surface tension, contact angle and others, SENSORS: Du Nouy ring and Wilhelmy plate.
Contact Angle Determination	Dataphysics, Contact Angle System OCA	Contact angle determination is a technique used to measure the angle between a liquid drop and a solid surface at the point where the three phases (solid, liquid, and gas) meet. Is important in the study of wetting properties and surface interactions, providing insights into the surface energy and hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of materials.
Mechanical tests	Hegewald & Peschke, Inspekt	Mechanical tests - compression, compression-decompression, film tensile, bending
Coater Laboratorial	Mathis SVA-IR	Surface coatings
Spin Coating	Spin 150	Surface coatings
Coating System	Quorum MiniQS	Surface coatings for SEM analysis
Optical Microscope	Olympus, série BH2	It has lenses of 5, 10, 20, 40 and 100. It is coupled with a digital camera (Colour VIEW IIIu) that allows you to acquire images of the plateau. The Color VIEW IIIu is a camera with 5 Megapixels of resolution, which enables high definition image acquisition. The ANALYSIS 5 software is used for image acquisition, processing and analysis, allowing parameters inherent to the morphological characterisation of the particles to be determined, namely: projected area, perimeter, Feret diameter, sphericity, shape factor, ECD (equivalent diameter) and Hole count.
Scanning Electron Microscope	Hitachi SU1000, Flex SEM 1000II	Electron microscope capable of producing high-resolution images of the surface of a sample. Produces images of a sample by scanning the surface with a focused beam of electrons
Surface Area Gas Sorption Analyzer	Autosorb iQ ST1527117	Surface area, volume and pore area analyser
Film Applicator	Elcometer 4340 Automatic	Film production with temperature control up to 200º C

Analyses -Techniques	Model	Specifications
Electrospinning	Electrospinning: fonte de alta tensão (SL10, Spellman) e bomba difusora (NE-1000 Multiphaser, New Era Pump Systems)	Production of polymeric nano/microfibres using the electrospinning technique.
Homogeniser (HPH)	GEA, Modelo Panda Plus 2000	Equipment used to make a substance more homogeneous, i.e. to mix or disperse components of a sample in a uniform way. It is ideal for processing nanoparticles, nanodispersions and nanoemulsions, for cell breakdown, but can also be used in the pharmaceutical, food, chemical and biotechnology industries
Freeze-dryer	MRC modelo FDL-LON-80-TD-MM	Drying materials/samples by water sublimatio
Microwave Digestion System	AURORA INSTRUMENTS, modelo TRANSFORM 680	System with high-pressure capabilities to enhance the digestion quality while decreasing the overall sample preparation time
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extractor	Homemade	Extraction with carbon dioxide in a supercritical state of vegetable matrices with the aim of extracting slightly apolar compounds. The composition of the extracts depends on the operating conditions of the unit, and therefore the conditions are provided by the client. We do not carry out a complete optimisation study of the best extraction conditions with the aim of obtaining a specific composition. Extraction and drying of hydrogels using water, organic solvents and supercritical carbon dioxide. It cannot be guaranteed that the final matrix will not suffer any structural damage. The drying conditions and organic solvents are indicated by the client. We do not carry out a complete optimisation study of the best drying conditions in order to obtain a specific morphology.
Supercritical CO2 Plant (scCO2)	Paralab (modificado)	Washing samples in syringe format with organic solvents at high pressure. Extraction of solvents using scCO2.
High Temperature Supercritical Plant	Paralab (modificado)
Solid-Liquid Extraction by Hydrodistillation	Schilcher	Obtaining slightly polar volatile extracts, generally aromatic and of low molecular weight
Solid-Liquid Extraction	Soxhlet	Obtaining apolar extracts with hexane, generally of high molecular weight
Ball Mill	Retsch, Planetary ball mill PM100
pH Meter	Mettler Toledo

Price Table (815 kB)

Application Form (803 kB)

Client Form (705 kB)

For more informations, please contact:
Tel. +351 239 798 790
E-mail: ceres@eq.uc.pt