The Water Science and Engineering Laboratory provides facilities for the following user groups:
- Aquaculture Program
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Area
- Environmental Engineering (Water Treatment Research and Research Flume Area)
- Limnology
- Sea Grant — Shop facilities in support of Sea Grant-sponsored research
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Laboratory & Office
The Environmental Chemistry and Technology Area occupies over 10,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space in the Water Science and Engineering Laboratory building on the UW-Madison campus. Our facilities include faculty, staff and graduate student offices, a 400 sq ft Conference Room, 40-seat Classroom, 300 sq ft Computer/Work Room, and over 8,000 sq ft devoted to research in aquatic chemistry and biogeochemistry. The laboratories are designed for analyses and experiments dealing with metals, major elements, and organic chemicals. Modern shop facilities (electronics/mechanical) located in our building allows fabrication of specialized equipment tailored to the particular field and laboratory research needs.
Mercury, Trace Metal, & Biogeochemistry
Our group has excellent facilities and equipment for research on trace metals in natural waters and environmental systems. Facilities include several dedicated clean rooms for trace metal and mercury sample processing and analysis, unique equipment for collecting and processing samples in the field under clean conditions, and highly sensitive instrumentation for trace-level analysis of mercury and other metals. Through recent research, our QA/QC procedures have been reviewed and approved by the EPA. Our research technical support staff have many years of experience in all phases of environmental trace analysis. We also have significant collaborative relationships with researchers from the USGS and other universities.
More detailed information can be found on the Research Areas page.
Environmental Technology
The Environmental Technology Program actively studies the synthesis and characterization of novel nanoparticulate oxides (including fundamental colloid chemistry studies of suspensions of these materials) as well as several applications of these materials. These applications include, but are not limited to: thermal catalysis and photocatalysis, separations (both liquid and gas phase separations as well as proton exchange membranes in fuel cells), energy storage devices (as ultracapacitors and thin film batteries), and sensors. Available equipment is often used in several different research areas but will be listed under the area of primary use.
More detailed information can be found on the Research Areas page.