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Techniques and methodology in the BIO department

BIO holds a unique position in which sea-going research is combined with state of the art laboratory experiments.

Existing techniques like continuous cultures, trace metal clean as well as pCO2-controlled culture facilities, indoor mesocosms, flow cytometry, clean sampling techniques (Titanium CTD frame with NIOZ developed water samplers), sensitive in-line, sea-going analysing techniques for trace metals and the carbonate system will continue to be optimized and adapted for new applications.

New techniques like multiple collector HR-ICPMS (for elemental analysis) are likely to be introduced, as well as equipment for analysis of biogenic trace gases (enabling Eddy correlation flux measurements). Other new tools will be tested for their implementation to the marine pelagic environment (e.g. qViro to allow discrimination of different virus types in the natural environment).

Being part of NIOZ, BIO focuses on the scientific research and therefore does not see larger sophisticated method developments as its core business. In order to keep a leading role in science, BIO seeks partners for relevant research and developments that requires more intense bio-informatics (e.g. full genome sequencing, metagenomics) and proteomics (gene expression), or demands specialized equipment such as Nanosims (flux studies in combination with stable isotopes), or new developments of autonomous sampling and analysing systems (e.g.Cytosense).

Research Facilities at BIO

Plankton laboratory

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Radionuclides-laboratory level C

The radionuclides-laboratory at the NIOZ-Texel is a lab where under the supervision of the radiation experts Level 3 experiments can be performed with radioactive isotopes. Only employees who successfully complete a radiation safety course (minimum level 5b) are allowed to carry out their work. The radionuclides-laboratory of NIOZ is located in building E00-21, is part of the Department of Biological Oceanography and accessible to employees on work days from 08: 00 – 17: 00. For working outside these times you need to consult with the responsible radiation expert.

NIOZ-Texel has a license for the C-lab for the holding and applying open sources within the location to a maximun of 3 radio toxicity equivalent for inhalation (Re(ing)). The license permit work with 3H, 14C, 32P, 33P, 35S en 45Ca. Currently (January 2012) are only 3H Leucine , 14C Sodium bicarbonate used.

NIOZ-Texel also has a licence for possession and apply of open sources aboard of research vessel to a maximum of 2.2 radio toxicity equivalent for inhalation (Re(ing)). For this purpose there are 2 containers as  fully C-lab furnished. During sailing trips where radionuclides are used, always 1 radiation expert level 3 has to be on board. Since there are stringent legal requirements for working with radionuclides, they should be applied only in the isotope laboratory. All operations with radionuclides have to be done inside the fumes.

From 1 January 2012 on you will be billed at € 2 per measured sample. With this contribution, all users are covered for the disposal of radioactive waste, the use of scintillation cocktails, gloves, pipette tips, and further lab facilities. The user must, in consultation with the radiation experts themselves acquire the radionuclides.

Organization
License holder: Henk Brinkhuis, Director
Head of BIO: Klaas Timmermans
Radiation expert: Santiago Gonzalez, Level 3
Responsible supervisor radiation expert: Patrick Laan, level 3

 

Intrumentation
There are 3 scintillation counters in the measuring Instrumentation room of the radionuclides-laboratory:
  1. TriCarb 2910 TR (also the seagoing instrument),
  2. RackBeta TriCarb2300 TR and LKB 1211.
  3. For contamination checks one can use the CoMo alfa's and 170 for betas and Thermo FH 406-L10 Radiameter for photon’s dosis equivalent.

Working-instruction radionuclides in the C- laboratory

  1. The C-lab may only be entered by the persons which are authorized and registrated before the experiments by the radiation-officer.
  2. In the C-lab only radiological work may be performed that is described in a protocol and approved by the radiation-officer.
  3. Before and after the normal working hours it is not allowed to work in the C-lab without permission of the radiation-officer.
  4. It is forbidden to eat, drink, smoke or use cosmetics in the C-lab.
  5. Using a lab-coat is obligatory. This may only be used in the C-lab for working with open radioactive isotopes.
  6. Use while working with a higher risk for contamination always gloves.
  7. After each experiment the working site has to be controlled for radioactive contamination. Once a month a big control of the work area is done by Kirsten Kooiman.
  8. Each contamination has to be cleaned and removed by the person that caused it.
  9. The radioactive waste has to be dumped in the for that purpose available waste bins.
  10.   Radioactive material may only be brought outside the C-lab with permission of the radiation officer.
  11. Radioactive contaminated glassware and other things may not leave the C-lab. It has to be cleaned in the C-lab or be treated as radioactive waste.
  12. Before leaving the C-lab you have to wash the hands and check the hands and clothes for radioactive contamination.

 

Instructions for accidents:

  1. A radioactive contamination has to be cleaned by the person that caused it and the radiation-officer has to be informed.
  2. After the cleaning the nearby surroundings of the radioactive contamination has to be checked for remaining radioactive contamination.
  3. In case of the radioactive contamination of a person, the radiation- officer has to be informed immediately, tel. 0222 369 500 or 06 5733 1350. The precautions for more contaminations and the decontamination of the person will be instructed by the radiation-officer.
  4. Inform the radiation-officer if you see anything in the C-lab that in your opinion is not correct concerning the radiation hygiene.
  5. In case of fire or other calamities call 112, or reception 9 and warn the radiation-officer.
Sea weed test facility

files/Fotos website editor/Onderzoek/met bedrijven/zeewiertestcentrum.jpgAt NIOZ-Texel, a seaweed test facility will be operational in the autumn of 2012. This will be part of the Netherlands Seaweed Science and Technology Center (SSTC). The aim of the SSTC is to bridge the gap between fundamental research on seaweeds and large scale production. It will allow for the full spectrum of seaweed research: from laboratory experiments, to larger scale outdoor tests to sea-going experiments (e.g. seaweedfarm in the North Sea). The SSTC consists of the NIOZ Research Institute, the seaweed test facility, and the NIOZ knowledge harbour. Additional partners in this initiative are Hortimare, ECN, IMARES, EcoFys & PRI Wageningen. 

The seaweed test facility can be used for ecophysiological studies on seaweeds, allowing variations in temperature, light, nutrient regimes, salinity, etc. The individual tanks are covered with a lid. The set-up of the facility is modular, i.e. each tank can be replaced by larger or smaller ones. Clean filtered seawater, originating from the Marsdiep, will be available in ample amounts. Waste water will be treated using Ulva filter tanks.

Seaweed species native to the North Sea area, such as Laminaria digitata, Saccharina latissima,Palmaria palmata and Ulva lactuca can be tested. 

For additional information please contact:

Klaas Timmermans (BIO)
T 0222 369 494
@ klaas.timmermans(at)nioz.nl
Analytical chemistry laboratory

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Virus laboratory

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