&EPA
www.epa.gov/research
science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Advanced Materials and Solids Analysis Research Core (AMSARC)
Providing EPA researchers and collaborators with the latest technology
What is AMSARC?
The Advanced Materials and Solids
Analysis Research Core (AMSARC),
centered at the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA) Andrew
W. Breidenbach Environmental
Research Center in Cincinnati, Ohio,
is the foundation for the Agency's
solids and surfaces analysis
capabilities. The state-of-the-art
analytical equipment that
comprises AMSARC will benefit
researchers in all of EPA's
laboratories in Cincinnati, as well as
other EPA research centers across
the nation. It is expected that
AMSARC will establish a stimulating
and collegial environment for
conducting cutting edge research
that will benefit continued progress
toward global sustainability,
materials management, pollution
prevention, and public health.
Mission
Cutting-edge research tools offer
great flexibility and breadth to
EPA's research. AMSARC
technology supports various EPA
projects, including water quality
research, corrosion control, green
chemistry, bacteria and
nanomaterials characterization,
arsenic removal from drinking
water, and many others. The
mission of AMSARC is to support
EPA's materials science and
engineering-related research
activities while fostering
multidisciplinary research
collaborations. AMSARC will assist
EPA's scientists and engineers to
develop innovative solids analysis
and preparation techniques and
maintain proficiency with state-of-
the-art practice techniques.
Collaboration and Use
Because AMSARC is not a
standalone entity, staff will not be
specifically associated with it.
AMSARC users include principle
investigators and analysts that use
or rely on the instruments to
complete their research.
Specifically, EPA research staff in
Cincinnati, including engineers,
chemists, and technicians, make-up
the workforce tied to activities
within AMSARC. Contract staff,
students, and postdoctoral
researchers also constitute
AMSARC users.
Beyond research on specific
projects, some staff members also
have the responsibility of being a
contact person for one or more
AMSARC instruments. That is, they
have been identified as an expert
on a specific instrument. As an
expert, they may also provide
training to other users, approve
skills of potential instrument users
before they independently use the
instrument, and offer technical
assistance to others.
In all aspects of our work, from
problem identification and research
design, and through to
implementation, we must involve
the widest span of disciplines to
bring different perspectives to the
table. Research planning involves
extensive outreach to stakeholders
to obtain input, and collaboration
with EPA's program offices, which
establish standards to protect
public health and the environment,
and the Agency's regional offices,
which support and enforce the
implementation of regulations.
Office of Research and Development
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
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Instruments Available for Use
AMSARC's analytical instruments, listed below, are available for routine sample
analysis and major research activities. AMSARC also houses a suite of preparatory
instruments including balances, polishers, presses, desiccators, vacuum carbon
coating systems, shaken, ovens, and numerous otheis.
Instrument
Use
Atomic Force Microscope
Carbon-Sulfur Analyzer
Model CS230
Coulometric Carbon Analyzer
Model: CM5012 Coulometer
Confocal Microscope
Model: Zeiss710
Stereo & Fluorescent
Microscopes
Model: Zeiss discovery
Field Emission Scanning
Electron Microscope
Keyence Microscope
Micromeritics Solids Analyzer
Mossbauer Spectrometer
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Spectrometer
Petrographic Microscope
Model: Labophot-pol 144942
Powder X-Ray Diffractometer
Model: X'Pert Pro
Scanning Electron Microscope
with Wavelength & Energy
Dispersive Spectroscopy
Model: JSM-6490LV
Scanning Transmission
Electron Microscope (STEM)
X-Ray Diffractometer
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
Model: Axios Advanced PW4400
Zeta Sizer
Model: SOOOHSa DTS 5301
Provides high-resolution surface profilometry; analyzes
pit corrosion; studies nano-scale forces; determines
conductivity of a surface
Measures the total carbon (organic and inorganic) and
the total sulfur on solid samples; provides a quality
control internal consistency check with XRF
Measures the total inorganic carbon in solids and
aqueous samples
Microscopy technique used to increase optical
resolution and contrast of a micrograph by using a
scanning laser point illumination and a spatial pinhole
to eliminate out-of-focus light
General microscopy equipment for stereo imaging and
fluorescent microscopy
High resolution (Inm resolution) SEM with energy
dispersive spectroscopy
Digital microscope with magnification to 20x to 200x
Determines physical characteristics of solid materials
including BET surface area, metal dispersion, and active
metal surface area
Atomic level identification of iron (Fe) speciation and
mineralogy
Measures elemental compositions in solid samples
including the oxidation states of the elements
Mineralogical identification of solids
Mineralogical identification of solids
Performs structural and elemental analysis of material
and biological solids as well as 2-dimensional elemental
mapping
Used to study nano-sized ultra-structure of material and
biological samples by transmitting an electron beam
through the sample
Spectroscopic technique for identifying minerals and
crystal structure
Quantitative elemental analysis of a sample; can also be
used for qualitative analysis
Determines the charge of one ion in the sample;
investigates how ions will attract or repel other ions
average zeta potential; calculates zeta potential and
electrophoretic mobility
Office of Research and Development
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
The Advanced Materials and
Solids Analysis Research
Core (AMSARC) is an
informally recognized
collection of materials and
surface analysis equipment,
and the associated risk
management research of EPA
engineers and scientists.
AMSARC supports the
Agency's aim of providing
researchers with the
technologies they need to
ensure the safety and
protection of public drinking
water, land, and air.
Contacts:
Darren Lytle
Acting Branch Chief
513-569-7432
lytle.daren@epa.gov
Christina Bennett-Stamper
Analyst
513-569-7010
bennett-stamper.christina@epa.gov
Stephen Harmon
Analyst
513-569-7184
harmon.stephen@epa.gov
Michelle Latham
Technology Transfer
513-569-7601
latham.michelle@epa.gov
Additional Information:
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/amsarc/
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EPA/600/F-11/007 | May 2011
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