Draft:Otto H. York Center for Environmental Engineering and Science (YCEES)

The Otto H. York Center for Environmental Engineering and Science (YCEES) at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) offers core laboratory facilities as a resource for the university and for contract research. It has been the home of many interdisciplinary research programs and initiatives.

History

Otto. H. York center originated from The Hazardous Substance Management Research Center (HSMRC), headquartered at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), was the nation's largest university-based hazardous waste management research program. Established in 1984 as a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, HSMRC was a consortium of five academic institutions: NJIT, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Stevens Institute of Technology, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Hazardous Substance Management Research Center

To advance engineering and management of hazardous substances through collaborative research, develop new management technologies, and evaluate existing technologies, the Center has built a database to identify effective, environmentally safe, and economically viable hazardous waste treatment and remediation technologies. The Center operated through six divisions: Incineration; Biological and Chemical Treatment; Physical Treatment; Site Assessment and Remedial Action; Health Effects Assessment; and Public Policy and Education. It collaborated with several other research centers at the York Center , including the EPA's Northeast Hazardous Substance Research Center at NJIT, the Emission Reduction Research Center at NJIT, and the EPA Center for Airborne Organics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These partnerships allow for a shared pool of researchers and close cooperation on a range of hazardous waste and environmental issues. The HSMRC was the first building in the nation especially constructed for cooperative public and private research in hazardous waste management. Otto H. York(1910 – July 12, 2007) In 1989, NJIT dedicated the HSMRC and the associated building to Mr. Otto H. York and renamed it the Otto York Center for Environmental Engineering and Science in his honor.

Material Characterization Laboratory at the Otto York Center

Over the years the Otto York Center developed a Material Cha0aratgerization Laboratory refers to as MCL to help diversify into many other areas with research projects besides Environmental Science and Engineering to include nanotechnology, drug delivery, particle engineering, microfluidics, membrane science, environmental science and engineering, and biomedical engineering. The center offers a wide range of analytical instruments and services for chemical measurements, environmental analysis, material characterization, and biological imaging. Some instrumentation and characterization facility at the MCL are listed below.

Electron Microscopy

The Electron Microscopy facilities at the Otto H. York Center are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments for high-resolution imaging and analysis of materials. Key instruments include the SEM - JEOL JSM-7900F, which features super high performance FE-SEM capable of 0.6 nm resolution at 15kV and 0.7 nm at 1kV. This instrument includes SMART features like auto-functions and auto-alignment, flexibility in chamber and stage adjustments, and powerful imaging capabilities such as single-digit Angstrom resolution at low voltage, energy filters, and beam deceleration. It is used for material morphology, Cryo-SEM imaging, and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for quantitative analysis, line profile analysis, and elemental mapping. The TEM - JEOL JEM-F200 operates at 80 to 200 kV with a "Pico Drive" hybrid stage for fine and coarse movements and an advanced scan system enabling large field-of-view imaging. It provides high-resolution imaging with a TEM resolution of less than 0.23 nm and ADF STEM resolution of less than 0.19 nm. The instrument also supports EDX analysis with a windowless large-area detector for high-speed and high-count analysis, and is used for crystal structure and diffraction pattern analysis, elemental analysis, quantum dots, and nano capsules.

Mass Spectrometry

The Mass Spectrometry facilities provide advanced capabilities for chemical analysis and structural identification. Instruments include GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) for the identification and quantification of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) for analyzing non-volatile and thermally labile compounds, and ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) for trace element detection and isotopic analysis in various matrices. These instruments support environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical research, and material science.

Environmental Analysis

The Environmental Analysis facilities are designed to support a wide range of air, water, and hazardous waste analysis. Capabilities include air and water analysis using instruments such as Purge & Trap GC, GC/MS, LC/MS, GC, LC, IC, ICP-MS, AA, and TOC analyzers. These instruments enable the analysis of VOCs, SVOCs, metals, and ions using EPA methods. The hazardous waste analysis capabilities employ advanced spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques for identifying and quantifying hazardous substances and supporting environmental remediation efforts.

Imaging Techniques

The Imaging Techniques at the York Center cover a range of advanced microscopy and imaging modalities for detailed morphological, structural, and compositional analysis. The Confocal / 2-Photon Microscope - Leica TCS SP8 MP offers confocal and 2-photon imaging with laser wavelengths of 405 nm, 488 nm, 552 nm, and 638 nm, and hybrid GaAsP detectors for high sensitivity and dynamic range in both confocal and multiphoton imaging. The Micro CT-Scanner - Bruker SKYSCAN 1275 provides high-resolution, non-destructive 3D imaging with an X-ray source of 20-100 kV and a 3MP active pixel CMOS flat panel detector, allowing for 2D/3D image analysis and realistic 3D visualization without staining, sectioning, or sample preparation. Other imaging techniques include SEM-EDS, TEM-EDX, AFM, Raman microscope, IR microscope, and confocal microscope, which are used for material morphology, structure, and composition analysis across various scientific disciplines.

User Base and Collaborations

For each year, NJIT York Center people design more than 10 diverse instruments-based workshops to help researchers develop new ideas, solve research and industrial problems, and achieve new research accomplishments. The York Center aims to provide intellectual and technical support for questions and projects that often challenge disciplinary boundaries. The Otto York Center for Environmental Engineering and Science serves over 125 students and researchers from NJIT and several other universities. The center also collaborates with industrial partners to provide training and sample analysis services.