Facilities

CEDB's administrative and faculty offices and research laboratories are located in the biology/chemistry building (Bldg. 58). The Center's administrative office and storage space total about 1538 sq. ft. CEDB has additional office space in an adjacent modular facility (Bldg. 6) and a separate analytical services laboratory (Wetlands Research Laboratory; Bldg. 83).

Currently, CEDB has five research laboratories (total space of ~5,372 sq. ft.) equipped to carry out studies in diverse areas.

The available instruments include: Fotodyne gel image analysis system; PCR thermal cyclers: two Corbett Research Rotor-Gene R6.3000 Q-PCR machines; four Perkin Elmer GeneAmp 2400, one Perkin Elmer GeneAmp 9700, and three Corbett Palm Cyclers; PCR hoods; electrophoresis units; Western blotting system; electroporation apparatus; ABI Avant 3100 automated DNA sequencer with Genescan and sequencing software; refrigerated Sorvall high speed and Sorvall RC M15GX Micro-Ultra-centrifuges; one ThermoFinnigan Flash EA Elemental Analyzer; bench top centrifuges; UV-Vis spectrophotometers; Genequant Pro Classic RNA/DNA CALC/ spectrophotometer; Spectrofluorometer; anaerobic chamber, and anaerobic gassing manifold; oxygen, pH, redox electrodes; Hydrolab DataSondes; hand-held water quality multimeters; Fisher Tensiomat surface tensiometers; refrigerators, -20 °C and -70 °C freezers; Turner Designs TD-700 fluorometer; Biospherical Instruments GUV511C and PUV500 ultraviolet radiometers, chromatography equipment and fraction collectors; water purification systems; analytical balances; pH meters; shakers and incubators; laminar flow hoods; rotary evaporators; nitrogen evaporators; rotary hybridization ovens; compound and binocular microscopes; epifluorescence microscope; one inverted microscope; vacuum pumps; and desiccators.

Additional general facilities available in the biology-chemistry building include: radiochemistry laboratory; analytical chemistry laboratory equipped with chemical fume hoods; H-1 flammable storage facilities; electron microscopy laboratory; dark rooms; walk-in environmental chambers and cold rooms; dish-washing facilities; autoclaving facilities; biological and radiochemical waste disposal services; and a stock room for general glassware and chemicals.

The Wetlands Research Laboratory (WRL, Bldg. 83 a 3500 sq. ft. facility) is an analytical arm of CEDB. The WRL is State of Florida Certified for environmental water analysis (Lab ID: E71176), conforming to the standards set out by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference as adopted into Chapter 64E-1 of the Florida Administrative Code. The laboratory complies with full chain of custody sample storage and handling practices.

The WRL is equipped with pH, salinity, and conductivity meters; a Bran and Luebbe AutoAnalyzer 3 nutrient analyzer with autosampler; a Lachat Quikchem FIA with IC; ovens; incubators; a muffle furnace; analytical and top-loading balances; two autoclaves; water baths; block digesters; sonicator; research-grade (Leica) compound microscope; a Varian SPECTRAA 220FS flame atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS); a Varian SPECTRAA 220Z Zeeman furnace AAS and an ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass Spectroscope).

Two Agilent 5890 GCs equipped with flame ionization detectors, electron capture detectors and thermal conductivity detectors. The GCs are equipped with capillary column injection systems and Megabore column injections systems. Both GCs are fitted with 100 sample autosamplers and are controlled by a ChemStation data system.

ThermoFisher/Finnigan 4500 mass spectrometer with positive and negative ion modes and mass range of 1000 daltons. The instrument is equipped for both electron ionization and chemical ionization as well as fast atom bombardment ionization. Samples can be introduced by heat direct probe or direct exposure probe.

ThermoFisher/Finnigan Incos 50 GC/MS system. Capable of both positive and negative ion modes with a mass range of 650 daltons. The instrument is equipped for both electron ionization or chemical ionization. The GC is an Agilent 5890 fitted for capillary columns and a 100 sample autosampler.

An Agilent 1050 liquid chromatograph. The system includes a quaternary solvent system with degasser and column heater. The unit is fitted with an autosampler and variable wavelength UV detector.

Field equipment includes data loggers, an atmospheric deposition unit to collect rain samples, Ford Escape 4x4 (2012), Dodge Dakota Truck (2002), 28-foot pontoon boat, two Jon boats and a 200 hp 21-foot Cape Horn Center console craft capable of sampling up to 20 miles offshore. It also has gasoline powered field generators; an enclosed 24-foot mobile lab; and sediment and water sampling equipment.