ERI pdf - HI Links

research
‘The ERI is a centre of
aspiration, working with
partners throughout Scotland,
across Europe and as far
afield as the USA, China and
Australia. We will strengthen
these relationships and create
partnerships which continue to
deliver world - class research.’
Professor Stuart W Gibb
Director of ERI
ANALYTICAL SERVICES
The ERI offers a variety of Analytical
Services utilising its range of
state-of-the-art equipment and
laboratory facilities supported by
an expert team of scientists and
technicians. The staff comprises of
top chemists and biologists with
years of experience and expertise
in the areas of mass spectrometry,
chromatography, molecular biology
and microscopy.
Equipment
High Performance Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC) with timeof-flight, tandem and ion-trap mass
spectrometric detectors, GC-MS,
Spectrophotometers, Voltammeter,
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)/
Sputter Coater, Inductively Coupled
Plasma -Optical Emission Spectrometer
(ICP-OES), Stereoscopic Microscopes,
Ground Penetrating Radar.
Services are offered in the
following areas:
Organics Analysis
HPLC, GC and MS are used in
various configurations and
combinations to permit the
analysis of a wide range of organic
compounds including fatty acids,
pesticides, phamaceuticals and
plant products. Given the nature of
the techniques, interested parties
can contact us to discuss their
specific requirements.
Metals Analysis
Simultaneous determination of
78 elements in aqueous samples
that can contain from 2% – 25%
dissolved solids is carried out
using ICP-OES (Inductively
Coupled Plasma Optical Emission
Spectrometry) and chemical
speciation of individual trace
metals is determined by cathodic/
anodic stripping voltammetry.
Radioactive Metal Detection
Detection and quantification
of radioactive materials and
determination of Uranium in
environmental samples is done
using Lab and Field gamma
spectrometers.
Ground Resources Mapping
High resolution 2-D images of
provided by Noggin Ground
This brochure has been funded by UHI’s
Knowledge Exchange Services team
(HI Links), a free service helping companies
in the Highlands and Islands to develop
and prosper through greater access to
knowledge, expertise and technology
available in Scotland’s Universities,
colleges and research institutes.
Penetrating Radar is used to map
ice thickness, assess groundwater
resources, bedrock topography,
buried structures such as pipes.
Microscopy
The Scanning Electron Microscope
(SEM) equipped with Energy
Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDXA)
not only allows the survey of
surface anomalies but also
allows elemental analysis on the
specimen being viewed. The
variable pressure SEM allows wet
and non-conductive samples to be
viewed in their original state. Webbased remote access to the SEM
is also available. This along with
a stereo microscope with digital
camera that is ideal for dissections
and optical microscopes provide
for superb microscopy analysis
facilities.
Molecular Biology
ERI is equipped with molecular
biological lab facilities including
an IQ5 realtime PCR and a Dcode
universal mutation detection
system. These can be used to
specifically amplify any desired
target for qualitative or quantitative
analysis in environmental tests
that rely on PCR amplification,
eg Clostridium perfingens,
Cryptosporidium etc. In addition to
the basic presence-absence testing
and quantification the equipment
also gives scope for sub classification
for more precise results.”
CONTACT US
Environmental Research Institute
Priyanka Sharma – Business Development Manager
Environmental Research Institute
Castle Street
Thurso KW14 7JD
T:+44 (0)1847 889 581/9
F:+44 (0)1847 890 014
E:[email protected]
www.eri.ac.uk
UHI HI Links staff will be happy to offer
advice to businesses of any size or
sector, and can offer general business
development advice as well as help
identify partners for collaboration
and potential funding sources.
Interested in finding out more?
Please see www.hilinks.uhi.ac.uk
for more details or contact the team by
emailing [email protected]
Environmental
Research Institute
North Highland
College UHI
THURSO, CAITHNESS
UHI HI Links project is funded by:
The Environmental Research Institute
(ERI) is based in Thurso on the north
coast of the Scottish Highlands. Since
opening in 2000, ERI has developed a
portfolio of multi-disciplinary research
activities that address contemporary
regional, national and international
environmental issues. The world class
facilities, equipment and expertise
available within the ERI can be accessed
by businesses anywhere in the Highlands
or much further afield.
‘The ERI works
with a wide range
of local businesses
and public agencies
in sectors including
renewable energy,
aquaculture, distilling,
biotechnology and
pharmaceuticals’
The ERI’s excellent research credentials and
superb laboratory and survey facilities allow
the institute to offer niche consultancy and
commercial services.
Currently the ERI offers services in the following areas, Aquaculture/Veterinary
Services, Renewable Energy and Analytical Services.
Case Study
SUMMARY
We currently focus on a number
of research priorities - Renewable
Energy & the Environment, Climate
Change, Ecology & Ecosystems,
Biogeochemistry, Biotechnology
& Bioresources and Emerging
Contaminants and Ecotoxicology.
The ERI is equipped with modern
laboratory facilities which house
a wide range of state-of-the-art
analytical instrumentation including
GC, HPLC, Mass Spectrometers,
Scanning Electron Microscope etc.
These, together with modelling and
marine survey capabilities (ERI owns
a coastal survey vessel ‘ERI Aurora’
and a wide range of sophisticated
survey equipment), allow the ERI to
undertake environmental research
and provide services of a very high
standard. The institute’s activities are
wide ranging and include Research
(applied and fundamental),
Knowledge Transfer, Consultancy
& Commercial Services and
Education & Training.
ERI seeks to provide quality service
and knowledge transfer activity
that are relevant and responsive
to the needs of the region. Over
the years it has built its reputation
by developing close working
relationships with local businesses
and public agencies in sectors
including aquaculture, renewable
energy, distilling, biotechnology
and pharmaceuticals.
As part of the North Highland
College and the UHI Millennium
Institute the ERI is also engaged
in the provision and delivery of
Masters & PhD programmes.
These not only provide outstanding
opportunities for full-time students
but can be geared to the needs of
working professionals wishing
to enhance their qualifications.
These examples are just some
of the facilities, expertise and
equipment which the ERI can
offer to businesses on a
commercial/consultancy basis.
Staff at the ERI would be very
happy to discuss how your
business might be able to benefit
from the resources available,
whether you are local or based
further afield.
Emamectin Benzoate
Sediment Analysis
Veterinary medicine giant
Schering Plough Animal Health
introduced ‘SLICE’ in the UK market
to treat sea-lice infestations on
salmon. This was widely adopted
by the aquaculture industry
and there was a regulatory
requirement for the active
ingredient in SLICE - emamectin
benzoate to be analysed in the
sediment under the salmon
cages. The ERI pioneered the
development of the methodology
for the analysis of emamectin
benzoate in collaboration with
Aquaculture company Marine
Harvest to meet industry demand
and now ERI is the leading
provider of this service to the
aquaculture industry in Scotland.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICES
ERI is a hub of vital research into
the marine renewables sector at
a time when understanding of
the natural marine environment
is of particular importance to
the world. The £4M Marine
Renewable Energy & Environment
(MaREE) in partnership with the
Scottish Association for Marine
Science (SAMS) will assist the
Using our advanced chromatographic development of sustainable
equipment and extensive expertise marine energy industries by a
thorough understanding of the
we are able to offer a range of
energy resource, of impacts on the
other services, including the
environment and of consequences
determination of other veterinary
for local communities.
medicines, such as Teflabenzuron
(the active ingredient of Calicide®),
Our research vessel ERI AURORA
Phosphate and Cholorophyll.
with extensive equipment for
survey and monitoring allows us
Water quality analysis
to support industrial clients and
Determination of standard
policy makers, by providing data
microbiological quality indicator
from the Pentland Firth and Orkney
parameters like E.coli, faecal
Waters.
coliforms (FC), total coliforms(TC),
Enterococci and heterotrophic
The ERI’s new £3M Centre for
plate count (HPC) in marine and
Energy & Environment will house
freshwater samples.
our growing pool of high-calibre
marine scientists who use cuttingedge equipment and methods
to do research that provide
a solid foundation to inform
our knowledge exchange and
commercial services.
AQUACULTURE/VETERINARY
SERVICES
We currently analyse sediment
samples for Emamectin as required
for regulatory compliance by SEPA.
We have provided this service
to the aquaculture industry for
over six years and our customers
include the leading aquaculture
companies.
ERI Marine Equipment – Survey
Vessel ‘ERI-Aurora’, ADCP, CTD,
Sidescan Sonar, Wave buoys, ROV,
Imaging Sonar, Acoustic Doppler
Velocimeter.
Knowledge exchange and
commercial services are broadly
offered across three themes Resource & Risk, Environmental
Impacts and Sustainability.
Specific areas of expertise are • Tidal and wave assessments using ERI Aurora and associated instrumentation
• GIS Modeling and Weather Windowing
• Integration of hydro-dynamic model outputs with tidal current survey data
• Environmental Impacts focused on identifying ecological impacts related to marine renewable energy devices
• Development of robust and cost effective methods for benthic and intertidal surveys
• Benthic sample processing and species identification with specialists on intertidal and subtidal organisms
• Creation of benthic habitat maps
• Community engagement with renewable energy

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