New technologies at the University of Siena: microanalysis and energy dispersion system operational in Life Sciences
Everything is operationalUniversity of Siena The new microanalytical system of spectrometry and energy dispersion (EDS) on the scanning electron microscope (ESEM Quanta 400) at the electron microscopy platform, of the installed department of Life Sciences, directed by Professor Pietro Lupetti.
The new instrumentation relating to the composition of rocks with precision the presence of chemical elements with a high atomic number in biological samples and nanomaterials of engineering interest. The complementation of the spectrometry data with the morphological data produced by the scanning electron microscope can also generate real “geographic maps” of the chemical elements with numerous advantages both for basic research and for applicative ambitions in mineralogy, materials sciences and biotechnologies.
The instrumentation was acquired thanks to the funding of the project “EDS spectrometry in the chemical characterization of inorganic phases and inclusions in biological matrices and in natural and synthetic inorganic materials” (F-LAB 2021) coordinated by Professor Cecilia Viti.
The project was conceived following a synergistic and interdisciplinary approach that has the involvement and contribution of teachers from different departments and university structures; the collaboration thus saw the full enhancement of the University’s cultural, technological and instrumental resources.
During the training activities, which were held at the end of May, it was possible to exploit the potential and versatility of the analytical system, as well as the excellent quality of the chemical data obtained, as emerged from the collections made on standards of known composition.
Days dedicated to explaining how the device works will be organized in the future.