Academic Geoscience Research

Critical Zone and Environmental Science

The critical zone represents the complex interactions between hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and atmosphere. Bruker seeks to provide innovative technological solutions for monitoring and characterizing ecosystem substrate, nutrients, contaminants and life.

Analytical Tools for the Ecosystems and Environments that Support Life on Earth

The critical zone supports all terrestrial life. Together with environmental sciences, studies focused on the critical zone seek to understand the complex interactions between hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and atmosphere that result in the products, such as soil, and processes that support ecosystems and determine the availability of resources. Bruker seeks to provide innovative technological solutions for monitoring and characterizing ecosystem substrates, nutrients, contaminants and life. 

Water Analysis with Innovative Tools

Water is Earth’s most valuable resource. Bruker provides tools that measure all aspects of water ranging from heavy metal contents to organic compounds, microplastic particles to oils, that may be found in water.  Bruker helps to ensure water quality on many different levels with ultimate accuracy whether analysis happens in the field or in the lab. 

Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) is one such tool. TXRF is a versatile and sensitive technique for the analysis of heavy metals in water, achieved with minimal cost and sample preparation, measuring the concentrations of elements from Mg – U down to sub parts-per-billion levels.  Since the technology is based on Energy Dispersive XRF, all elements present in a sample are included in the same measurement allowing for a complete elemental profile of water samples.  Solutions include:  

  • The versatile and rugged S2 PICOFOX, which may be equipped with a 25-disk sample changer and analysis range of Al – U. 

  • The high-capacity S4 T-STAR with a 90-position sample changer and option for up to three excitations for full elemental coverage from Mg – U. The T-STAR  meets some of the most difficult elemental analysis requirements. 

Soil compositional and textural analysis

Soil is one of the most important natural resources in the critical zone. The use of analytical technology for the study of minerals, organic matter, gasses and liquids in soils, including contaminated soils and constituents for pedologic studies and agronomy is well established. Bruker’s analytical tools include:

  • Portable XRF for assessing soil physicochemical properties in-situ, including soil texture and composition 

  • Fine-scale geochemical mapping with micro-XRF allowing visualization of the elemental structure of soil

  • High-resolution scanning electron microscopes with EDS spectrometers elucidate soil micromorphology and the microscopic weathering processes foundational to pedogenesis  

  • Vibrational spectroscopy including FT-IR, NIR, and Raman can be used for mineral identification and organic matter characterizations.

  • X-ray microscopy for characterizing the 3D spatial arrangement of the mineral and organic components, as well as the pore network.

Webinars on Critical Zone and Environmental Science

Micro-XRF spectrometry
ON-DEMAND SESSION - 63 MINUTES

Seeing the world through other eyes

Scanning micro-XRF has developed into a highly informative analytical tool for the study of complex samples across multiple disciplines.
Introduction to Analysis of Light Elements in Inorganic Materials
July 15, 2020

Analysis of Light Elements (C,S – O,N,H) in Inorganic Materials

An introduction to combustion and fusion gas analysis.
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Webinar Recording | 60 Minutes

Nanoscale Chemical and Structural Properties of Biological Systems from the Single Molecule to Living Organisms

In this webinar, Dr. Simone Ruggeri will discuss his research focusing on recent developments in infrared absorption nanospectroscopy.
Analytical SEM Solutions for Geology - Part I
ON-DEMAND SESSION - 64 MINUTES

Analytical SEM Solutions for Geology - Part I

Join us for a webinar in two parts covering various aspects of scanning electron microscopy techniques (EDS, EBSD, CL) for geological applications.
The techniques are surface sensitive
ON-DEMAND SESSION - 59 MINUTES

Analytical SEM Solutions for Geology - Part II

Join the second part of this free webinar dealing with scanning electron microscopy techniques (EBSD, CL) for geological applications.
Infrared and Raman Analysis of Geological Samples
November 9, 2018

Infrared and Raman Analysis of Geological Samples

TXRF spectrometers are plug-and-play systems for all laboratory environments providing fast and accurate results of even minute sample amounts.
ON-DEMAND SESSION - 44 MINUTES

Do It Yourself - Metal Analysis in Biological and Medical Samples with TXRF

This webinar will demonstrate the use of Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy in biopharmaceutical, clinical & biological research.
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April 07, 2018

Cleared Sample Imaging by means of Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Gain insights into the basics of light-sheet microscopy and the critical details that produce the best light-sheet imaging results.
Wastewater
ON-DEMAND SESSION - 60 MINUTES

Rapid on-site trace element analysis of wastewater, sewage and industrial effluents

This webinar will demonstrate the performance of compact TXRF spectrometers and their application to industrial wastewater, sewage and process runoff.

Publications Related to Critical Zone and Environmental Science