Laboratory for Environmental Analysis of Forests (LEAF)

The LEAF offers 2,200 square feet of laboratory space dedicated to the study of carbon, nutrient, and trace element movement and cycling through plants, soil and water in terrestrial ecosystems, and into adjacent aquatic ecosystems. Analytical services are typically provided on a fee per sample basis. The LEAF provides Michigan Tech investigators (1) expert advice on sampling and analytic techniques for elements in water, soil, and plant tissues, (2) supervision of students preparing samples for analysis, (3) space and equipment to perform sample grinding, extractions, filtering, and microwave digestion, and (4) analytic instrumentation for quantitative analysis of elemental composition of liquids and solids and isotopes of C and N in liquids, solids, and gases.

Selected Instrumentation and Equipment

  • Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
  • Elemental (C, N, S, O) Analyzer
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer
  • Microwave Digestion System
  • Total Organic Carbon/Nitrogen Analyzer
  • Analytical Autoanalzyer
  • Gas Chromatographs

Contacts:

  • Andrew J. Burton, LEAF Director, ajburton@mtu.edu
  • Jennifer Eikenberry, LEAF Technical Staff, jreikenb@mtu.edu

Location: Horner Hall (Forestry) 161, 163, 191