Ottawa (ON) Research Centre | Characterization Laboratory

CanmetENERGY’s Characterization Laboratory specializes in the analysis of fuels, biofuels, biomass products, fuel-related products and by-products in the solid, liquid or gaseous states. Registered to ISO 9001:2000, the Characterization Laboratory provides standardized and specialized analytical research services. Its capabilities include a broad range of spectrometric, chromatographic and classical analytical techniques for the provision of standardized testing and research project initiatives.

With active involvement in standards development and research into new analytical techniques and methodologies, CanmetENERGY’s Characterization Laboratory strives to meet the unique needs of Canada's energy technology research. The Characterization Laboratory provides the following:

  • Standardized Testing
  • Advanced Chemical Characterization
  • Standards Development for Fuels and Test Methods
  • Research Activities

Standardized Testing

Along with in-house developed test methods, the Characterization Laboratory offers a range of analytical techniques from the following standards committees: American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) External Hyperlink, Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) External Hyperlink, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) External Hyperlink.

  • Coal, Coke, Combustion Residues, Biomass and Refuse-Derived Fuels Analysis: Some of the testing services include proximate and ultimate analysis, calorific value determination, ash fusion and elemental analysis. The Characterization Laboratory also offers mercury (Hg) analysis following guidelines from The Canadian Uniform Data Collection Protocol (UDCP) for Mercury from Coal-fired Electric Power Generation External Hyperlink and helps clients monitor Hg levels as stipulated by the Canada-Wide Standards for Mercury Emissions External Hyperlink.
     
  • Petroleum Products, Lubricants and Biofuels Analysis: The Characterization Laboratory’s capabilities in the physical and elemental testing of petroleum products and biofuels include ultra-low sulphur and nitrogen analysis and determination of viscosity, acid number, and pour/cloud points.

Characterization Laboratory

Characterization Laboratory

Advanced Chemical Characterization

CanmetENERGY’s Characterization Laboratory specializes in advanced chemical characterization focused on energy R&D. Specialized services include:

  • Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (SEM/EDX): This instrument is used for imaging, elemental analysis and mapping. Current applications include assessing new catalyst formulations and aiding in the determination and distribution of mineralogical phases present in coal, coke and combustion residues.
     
  • X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD): This efficient technique is used to identify diverse crystalline materials like coal minerals, combustion residues, catalysts, etc. It can be operated in qualitative and quantitative modes to identify mixtures of crystalline materials and estimate crystallite size for catalyst metal dispersion.
     
  • Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF) Spectroscopy: This spectrometer is used to determine the elemental distribution — from percent to parts per million levels — in a variety of matrices including coal and coke ash, fly ash, biomass, deposits, catalysts, refuse-derived fuels, biofuels and petroleum products. It can also perform elemental mapping with a 500 micron resolution using an internal CCD camera.
     
  • Customized Structural Analysis: Scientists can provide authoritative advice on the development of improved catalytic, coking and combustion processes through advanced techniques like XRD, SEM/EDX, and Thermogravimetric Analysis coupled with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR).
     
  • Specialized Gas Chromatography (GC) and Mass Spectrometry (MS) Techniques: Gas Chromatography is performed on fuels and related products for organic speciation. Gas chromatography using a variety of inlet systems, detectors, and columns permits analyses such as:
     
  • Simulated distillation of a variety of liquid fuels and lubricants to ASTM D2887/3710 specifications using a flame ionization detector (FID) and a temperature programmable inlet
     
  • Refinery Gas Analysis for gaseous samples
     
  • Sulphur speciation using a Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (PFPD)
     
  • Advanced speciation including FAMEs (fatty acid methyl esters) in biodiesels and PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) in particulate matter (PM2.5) collected from vehicle exhaust and ambient air using mass spectrometry (GC/MS)
     
  • Semivolatile and volatile organics captured on filters and in sorbents using direct thermal desorption-GC/MS (TD-GC/MS)

Standards Development for Fuels and Test Methods

The Characterization Laboratory is actively participating in committees of the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) External Hyperlink, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) External Hyperlink and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) External Hyperlink to help set national and international standards for fuels and test methods.

Research Activities

The Characterization Laboratory is involved in research activities supporting Natural Resources Canada’s energy policy including:

  • particulate matter (PM2.5) research to develop source emission profiles for apportionment of PM2.5 from transportation in ambient air (in partnership with Environment Canada) External Hyperlink
  • analytical method development for alternative fuels research
  • analytical research services tailored to support the development of clean coal technologies and advanced fossil fuels.

Characterization Lab Services

Managed by CanmetENERGY at the Ottawa (Ontario) Research Centre.