 Main Research Building I
Library/Supercomputer
This building houses analytical instrumentation and support
facilities such as clean rooms. The instruments permit accurate,
highly sensitive and selective detection of harmful substances in
environmental samples. Stable isotope analysis facilitates research
on global warming and the origins of pollutants. Among this
building's instruments, listed below, are some that are used for
research and development of new analytical methods. |
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(Left: Super Computer Right: NIES Library)
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Table of Analytical Instrumentation in Main Research Building I
| Standard Instruments (Free Access to Institute Researchers) |
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Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
Gas Chromatograph with Atomic Emission Detector
Scanning Electron Microscope
Transmission Electron Microscope
Ultraviolet-Visible Microscope Spectrophotometer
Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer
Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer
Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer (for gas samples)
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer
Flow Cytometer
High-Speed Amino Acid Analyzer
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| Special Instruments (Restricted Access) |
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Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer
High-Precision Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer
(for gas samples)
Thermal (Surface) Ionization Mass Spectrometer
(for stable isotopes)
Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometer
Laser Raman Spectrometer
X-ray Diffractometer
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Main Research Building II
1) Evaluation Laboratory of Man-Environmental Systems
(ELMES) and Systems Analysis and Planning in Intelligent
Environmental Information Systems (SAPIENS)
ELMES includes a medium-sized conference room that serves as
a group laboratory, a multi-group laboratory for gaming
simulations, and minicomputer control devices for experiments,
all to facilitate the experimental evaluation of human attitudes
toward the environment, the environmental planning process and
the effect of environmental information on these. SAPIENS is
comprised of an environmental database, an image processing and
display system and a minicomputer for presenting environmental
information in ELMES. SAPIENS is also used to develop and
study local environmental information systems.
2) Preservation Laboratory
This facility includes -20C, 4C and 25C temperature-controlled
rooms, a room for -100C and -80C freezers and a room for
archives. Environmental specimens are stored here for long
periods. Research on specimen preservation is also conducted. |
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Main Research Building III
1) Fourier-Transform Mass Spectrometer (FT-MS)
FT-MS has very high mass resolution, more than 106 at m/z = 131,
with a superconducting magnet rated at 3 Tesla. Cluster ions with
high mass numbers, isotopes/isobars, and reactions of radicals and
ions can be measured with very high mass resolution.
2) Tandem Mass Spectrometer (Tandem-MS)
Two double-focus type mass spectrometers, each with a resolution
of 6.5 L 104, are connected serially (in tandem). The ions selected
by the first mass spectrometer are modified by electron impacts
and other reactions in the interface area and the resulting ions are
analyzed by the second mass spectrometer. The chemical structures
of complex molecules can be analyzed with this technique.
3) Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS)
An electrostatic tandem accelerator of 5 million V (max.) terminal
voltage is interfaced with two ion sources and an analytical mass
spectrometer system. Isobaric atomic ions can be distinguished
by the electric charges of their nuclei. The AMS is a very sensitive
and selective method for atomic ion detection and it is used for
measurements of long-lived radioisotopes such as 14C and 36Cl.
These radioisotopes are used as tracers and time-markers (dating
agents) in environmental research.
4) Hazardous Chemicals Area
Highly toxic substances, such as dioxins (chlorinated
dibenzodioxins), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated
dibenzofurans, are used in this area. The air pressure
inside the area is maintained below atmospheric pressure, which
prevents toxic fumes from leaking out. Exhaust air is treated by
high-performance filters (HEPA) and charcoal filters; discharge
water is also treated with a charcoal filter system. These filters
and other wastes are destroyed by appropriate incineration facilities
installed within the area. The Hazardous Chemicals Area contains
a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) and a
microcosm, as well as facilities for microorganism-related research,
animal exposure experiments and measurements of the physical
and chemical properties of substances.
5) Data Handling Facility for the Improved Limb Atmospheric
Spectrometer (ILAS) and the Retroreflector in Space (RIS)
ILAS and RIS are satellite-borne sensors for measuring
atmospheric constituents, such as ozone, and were developed by
the Environment Agency of Japan as components of the Advanced
Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS), named Midori after launching.
In August 1996, ADEOS was launched by an H-II rocket from the
Tanegashima Space Center of Japan. Data obtained by ILAS/RIS
are processed, archived and distributed by NIES. The data handling
facility includes a parallel processing computer system, a highspeed
network system and software, optimized for processing the
data from these satellite sensors.
6) Millimeter-wave Spectrometer System for Observation of Atmospheric Ozone
The millimeter-wave spectrometer is widely and extensively used
in astronomical measurements of gaseous molecules in space.
Ozone molecules in the stratosphere and mesosphere radiate
millimeter-range radio waves. The spectrometer system was
completed in October 1995, and since then has continuously
monitored the vertical distribution of ozone (35~75 km altitude),
except on rainy or heavily overcast days.
7) Eco-Office
This is an office area for evaluating energy-saving/solar-energyutilizing
equipment such as wall insulation, solar cells and a solar
hot water supply system. Several types of solar cells, such as singlecrystal,
multi-crystal and amorphous types, are being compared
under identical conditions. The hot water generated is used as the
source for a heat-pump type air conditioner as well as for hot water
faucets.
8) Reception and Processing Facility for NOAA Satellite Data
The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) orbits
the earth on a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA, USA) satellite. This instrument monitors 5
electromagnetic radiation wavelength bands from the visible to
the infrared region with high temporal resolution and a relatively
medium spatial resolution (ca. 1 x 1 km). The NIES AVHRR
facilities consist of 2 receiving stations -- one at NIES, Tsukuba,
and the other on the island of Kuroshima, Okinawa -- and a data
processing center at NIES.
9) Information Processing Center for GRID-Tsukuba
GRID-Tsukuba is a part of the Center for Global Environmental
Research (CGER). The GRID information processing system was
introduced at NIES in 1994. This system, which consists of a
remote-sensing image processing system and a geographic
information system, is operated by NIES researchers to process
GRID data and to produce original data sets. The work stations of
this system are connected to a supercomputer, super-minicomputer
and personal computers through a LAN. Several software
packages, including ERDAS/IMAGINE, ARC/INFO and GRASS,
are installed on these workstations. Image processing is done with
IDRISI on an IBM/PC. |
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Research
Laboratory of Material Cycles and Waste Management
| In April 2001 NIES established the Research Center
for Material Cycles and Waste Management, as an expansion of the Waste
Research Division that had been created in January in connection with
national government’s administrative reforms. Construction of
the Waste and Recycling Research Building was begun as part of this
expansion. The new building supports research on resource circulation
and waste management, resource recovery and recycling, and technologies
for environmental risk reduction and restoration after pollution,
as well as testing, evaluation and monitoring. |
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