University of Toronto Department of Geology
Microbial Geochemistry Laboratory
www.geomicrobiology.ca
Laboratory Facilities
Facilities in the Microbial Geochemistry Laboratory include a ‘double’ Forma Scientific anaerobic chamber, shakers and incubators for short and long-term experiments, a Milton Roy ultra-violet visible spectrophotometer, two HACH spectrophotometers (one for field use), PCR facilities, YSI multi-parameter field probe, phase-contrast microscope, differential interference contrast microscope, epi-fluorescence microscope (with camera), pH macro-electrodes, and pH and Eh micro-electrodes and meters, auto titrators, preparative centrifuge, micro-centrifuge, ultrasonic bath, water bath, oven, assorted stirrers and hotplates, UV lamp, three and five figure balances and various field sampling equipment.
Additional facilities available to the MGL:
ANALEST (Analytical Laboratory for Environmental Science Research and Teaching) - Atomic adsorption spectrophotometer (AAS), ion chromatography (IC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), inter-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer (ICP-AES), infra-red spectroscopy, gas chromatography (GC), microwave digestion, elemental analysis (CHNS)
Department of Geology - Analytical scanning electron microscopes, X-ray diffraction, neutron activation analysis, electron microprobe, laser ablation ICP.
Instructional Activities
Undergraduate
GLG 351 Geochemical and Biological Regulation of Aquatic Systems
An introduction to aqueous environmental geochemistry emphasizing the importance of chemical equilibria, mass transport, and microbiological activity in regulating the chemical composition of natural and contaminated systems.
GLG 448 Deep River Field Course: Biogeochemical Processes in Natural Waters
Students learn how to evaluate a range of physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in wetlands, streams, lakes, and near-surface groundwaters. Working in small groups, students (i) measure water table elevations and map groundwater flow, (ii) appraise microbial activity in sediments through measurement and interpretation of dissolved methane concentration profiles, and (iii) evaluate the steady state chemical composition of a small lake with respect to the transport, chemical speciation, and biogeochemical cycling of iron and sulfur.