Analytical laboratory in environmental biogeochemistry

The infrastructure available in Prof. Marc Lucotte's laboratory allows the quantification of a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds in a variety of environmental matrices.

A gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer allows the analysis of lignin biomarkers and different sugars, and another chromatograph coupled to an electron capture detector is used for the analysis of glyphosate and its main degradation product, AMPA. The laboratory's scientific equipment also allows routine physical-chemical analyses of water and soil.

Prof. Marc Lucotte's laboratory is currently carrying out action research as part of the UQAM research chair on the Transition to the sustainability of field crops, which aims to drastically reduce the dependence of industrial cereal and oilseed production on chemical inputs such as pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, while maintaining high yields. The interdisciplinary team of the Chair, in collaboration with producers and government representatives, addresses various issues such as maintaining soil functions, preserving water quality in agricultural areas, and long-term crop profitability. Dynamic socio-economo-environmental models are being developed to study the conditions for large-scale adoption of sustainable alternative practices such as permaculture, both in Quebec and elsewhere in the world, in particular in Brazil.

Analyses and services provided internally by the laboratory:

• Analysis of glyphosate and AMPA in samples of soil.