Customer Success Story with York University
The Challenge
The Department of Chemistry at York University sought to modernize instrumentation used in its second-year analytical chemistry laboratory. An existing flame-based atomic absorption system no longer aligned with the department’s objectives of providing students with experience using contemporary analytical techniques, nor with its broader commitment to environmentally responsible scientific practices.
The department required a solution that would support foundational teaching goals while introducing students to modern approaches to elemental analysis.
The Bedrock Scientific Solution
Bedrock Scientific partnered with York University to procure and install an Agilent microwave plasma–atomic emission spectrometer (MP-AES) in the undergraduate teaching lab. The system replaces traditional flame-based analysis with a more environmentally conscious approach, supporting the university’s focus on sustainability in scientific training.
The MP-AES has been integrated into the second-year analytical chemistry curriculum, where students perform the quantitative analysis of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) in brass samples. Through this application, students develop practical skills in calibration, measurement, and data interpretation using modern atomic spectroscopy techniques.
As samples are introduced, the instrument’s torch generates a bright, stable plasma sustained by microwave energy and nitrogen gas. The plasma appears as a tightly confined, luminous column, typically pale blue to violet, flickering subtly as excited atoms emit their characteristic wavelengths. This visible emission provides a compelling, real-time connection between theory and measurement for students.
The Impact
The introduction of the Agilent MP-AES supports York University’s goal of aligning laboratory instruction with current analytical practices while reinforcing environmentally responsible approaches to scientific work.
Students gain hands-on experience with instrumentation relevant to both academic and industrial settings, helping to build practical, industry-aligned skills that support their continued studies and future careers.
Bedrock Scientific is pleased to support York University in advancing STEM education through applied, real-world laboratory learning.
