Make : Waters Corporation, USA
Model & Specification: HPLC with PDA Detector: 515 Binary Pump with 717 plus Autosampler, 2998 PDA Detector and Empower 2 Software

The liquid chromatography separates biochemical compounds based on various physical and/or chemical interactions taking place between the sample/ molecules/ substances and the stationary phase. Because of interactions, the molecules travel according to their relative affinities towards the stationary phase. The component which has more affinity towards the adsorbent travels slower. The component which has less affinity towards the stationary phase travels faster. Since no two components have the same affinity towards the stationary phase, the components are separated. The HPLC is combined with PDA detector.

It is ultraviolet and visible (UV/Vis) spectrophotometer with a photodiode array of 512 photodiodes and an optical resolution of 1.2 nm, the detector operates in the range of 180-800 nm. It is a non-destructive detector.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis.

1. At present universal C-18 columns are available and if a specific column is required, it may be mentioned.
2. Buffers/solvents required for analysis of biochemicals compounds and operating conditions of the samples be specified.
3. It is mandatory to mention the source and type of biochemicals to be analysed.
4. No toxic chemicals will be accepted and samples must be accompanied by materials safety data sheet.

Dr.M.Mayilvaganan
Principal Scientist
National Research Centre for Banana
Thogamalai Road, Thayanur Post
Trichy 620102, Tamil Nadu.

Model : Prodigy 7 (Teledyne Leman Lab)

Inductively Coupled Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP- AES) is an emission spectrophotometric technique, exploiting the fact that excited electrons emit energy at a given wavelength as they return to ground state after excitation by high temperature Argon Plasma. The fundamental characteristic of this process is that each element emits energy at specific wavelengths peculiar to its atomic character. The energy transfer for electrons when they fall back to ground state is unique to each element as it depends upon the electronic configuration of the orbital. The energy transfer is inversely proportional to the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation,

E = hc/ λ … (where h is Planck’s constant, c the velocity of light and λ is wavelength), and hence the wavelength of light emitted is also unique.

Although each element emits energy at multiple wavelengths, in the ICP-AES technique it is most common to select a single wavelength (or a very few) for a given element. The intensity of the energy emitted at the chosen wavelength is proportional to the amount (concentration) of that element in the sample being analyzed. Thus, by determining which wavelengths are emitted by a sample and by determining their intensities, the analyst can qualitatively and quantitatively find the elements from the given sample relative to a reference standard.

The wavelengths used in AES ranges from the upper part of the vacuum ultraviolet (160 nm) to the limit of visible light (800 nm). As borosilicate glass absorbs light below 310 nm and oxygen in air absorbs light below 200 nm, optical lenses and prisms are generally fabricated from quartz glass and optical paths are evacuated or filled by a non absorbing gas such as Argon.

ICP-OES is used for a wide range of applications in the following industries:

• Environmental
• Oil Analysis
• Pharmaceutical
• Food
• Petrochemical
• Mining
• BioFuels
• Soil samples
• Plant tissue samples

Dr.K.J.Jeyabaskaran,
Principal Scientist,
National Research Centre for Banana
Thogamalai Road, Thayanur Post
Trichy 620102, Tamil Nadu.

The GC-MS instrument consists of two main components. The gas chromatography portion separates different compounds in the sample into pulses of pure chemicals based on their volatility by flowing an inert gas (Mobile phase), which carries the sample, through a stationary phase fixed in the column. Spectra of compounds are collected as they exit a chromatographic column by the mass spectrometer, which identifies and quantifies the chemicals according their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). These spectra can then be stored on the computer and analysed.

This facility can be used for the identification of semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds (minimum sample size required is 2 µl).

The samples should be prepared by standard extractionand clean up procedure in consultation with National Reference Laboratory.

Dr.A.Mohanasundaram,
Senior Scientist,
National Research Centre for Banana
Thogamalai Road, Thayanur Post
Trichy 620102, Tamil Nadu.

Co60 source in the BI 2000/GC 2000 will emit gamma rays that have the potential to mutate any living cells or organs. The variability caused through mutagenesis can be exploited in the improvement programmes. The gamma rays have the potential to extend the shelf life of perishable commodities.

Gamma Irradiation Chamber is versatile equipment used for research studies in fields such as:

• Mutation Breeding
• Irradiation of Seeds, Bulbs, Tubers and Scions
• Biological and Genetic Effects of Radiations
• Sterile Male Insect Technique
• Sterile Pollen technique
• Post harvest shelf life studies

Gamma Irradiation Chamber can also be used in many other research applications which require irradiation of materials with ionizing radiations at varying doses.

Dr.M.S.Saraswathi,
Principal Scientist,
National Research Centre for Banana
Thogamalai Road, Thayanur Post
Trichy 620102, Tamil Nadu.