Instrument Usage
List of services
- Sample Preparation: dry and wet milling, high pressure homogenization, ultrasound homogenization, separation methods, packaging, shock freezing, process unit (cooking, stirring)
- Drying and Fluidized Bed Applications: spray drying, freeze drying, drum drying, drying chambers, agglomeration and coating
- Extrusion Technologies
- Baking Lab: baking process (kneaders, fermentation cabinets, baking ovens etc.)
- Preservation: rotary autoclave, ultra-high temperature treatment, high pressure treatment
- Electrotechnologies: ohmic heating, pulsed electric fields applications, impedance analysis
- Stability Analysis: particle size measurement, phase stability (LUMifuge), photo stability, color analysis, headspace gas analysis (O2 and CO2), submersive oxygen analysis, climate chamber
- Small Scale Food Fermentation
- Identification of Microorganisms with MALDI-TOF
For detailed information also see fbp/geraete-und-services
Training
Use of FBP instrumentation is strictly permitted only after successful training by authorized super users. Important: Users in general are not allowed to train other users under any circumstances. Violating this rule will result in the loss of access to the facility for both the unauthorized trainer and trainee.
To schedule training, please contact the facility. If a user has not used a particular instrument for over one year, they must consult with FBP staff for a refresher or retraining session, if needed.
Training also includes an introduction to the facility’s safety regulations and specific guidelines of conduct. If a user fails to complete training successfully or does not comply with facility rules (especially regarding safety), FBP staff reserves the right to suspend or permanently revoke the user's access to instrumentation.
Sample Quality
Any material provided must meet basic quality standards. We ask our users to provide product specification sheets for all raw materials intended to be processed in our facility.
In addition, we ask the users to evaluate monodispersity/ homogeneity of the sample and have accurately determined the concentration before requesting services. Please note that additional characterization required to complete a service may incur extra charges. FBP does not take any responsibility for negative results (e.g. from poor sample quality). FBP is happy to assist with meeting the above-mentioned quality criteria upon request.
Biosafety and Lab Safety
Use of FBP services and infrastructure is strictly limited to non-hazardous materials. This means that no infectious or toxic material, genetically modified organisms or otherwise hazardous material may be brought into or processed within the facility.
If you are unsure whether your material meets the requirements, please consult FBP staff before initiating any work.
Instrument Booking and Cancellation
The FBP infrastructure and services are available to all interested scientific staff (BOKU and external) as well as to companies. Regular working hours are Mon-Fri, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Usage outside these hours requires prior approval.
All instrument use and training must be booked via the booking software Stratocore (PPMS).
- BOKU-internal users: For an account request please align with your BOKU-supervisor or contact FBP staff.
- For external users a user account will be set up by FBP staff.
If consumables are required (except basic lab equipment e.g., gloves, pipette tips, etc.) they may be ordered via FBP, based on actual usage.
Cancellations within 24 hours of training or booked instrument time must be made in person or by phone – emails are not sufficient. Unused bookings must be cancelled, or they will be fully charged.
FBP staff are exempt from booking limits for project or maintenance work. If instruments become unavailable, users will be notified as early as possible. FBP may cancel bookings at short notice for repairs or maintenance, which will be planned to minimize disruption to users.
Users are expected to handle instruments carefully, use resources responsibly, and consult FBP staff if issues arise or if anything is unclear. All instructions provided by FBP staff or protocols must be strictly followed.
User Samples and Reagents
All user samples and reagents must be clearly labeled with the compound name, username, and date. Unlabeled items will be discarded without prior notice for safety and hygiene reasons.
During active projects, users may store materials in designated facility areas (e.g. cooling room). These must be cleared immediately after project completion. FBP staff may discard uncollected materials if cleanup requests are ignored.
For full-service projects, users will be notified when experiments are complete and if materials remain. Users are expected to promptly collect any remaining materials. If samples need to be returned to off-campus users, all shipping costs must be covered by the user.
Waste Management All (biological) samples and any disposables must be discarded in appropriate containers. Microbiological samples must be disposed of in specific containers, carrying a biohazard symbol (see below) and consequently have to be autoclaved. ☣️
Dirty lab ware (bottles, beakers etc.) as well as pilot plant utensils have to be placed on designated trays or a corresponding dishwasher. Labels have to be removed.
General Lab Equipment
The following basic laboratory equipment is available for users at FBP:
- Personal protective equipment such as safety glasses and gloves
- Cook ware and kitchen utensils such as pots, frying pans bowls, cooking spoons, ladles, flour scoops
- Ultra Turrax
- Dish washer
- Moisture Analyzer
- Portable devices: pH meter, conductometer, refractrometer
- IR- thermodetector
- Balances
- Magnetic stirrer (heatable) and vortexer
- pipettes and tips
- RO water supply
- Pressurized air, CO2 and nitrogen supply
Users are expected to inform FBP staff when supplies are running low. Additionally, we encourage users to suggest equipment or consumables they believe should be added to the facility’s standard repertoire. Please note that failure to return items, improper cleaning, or damage to equipment may result in the user being charged for the cost of cleaning, repair, or replacement.
Data Transfer and Storage
Raw data generated on FBP instruments and machines is stored locally on the respective instrument control units. It is the sole responsibility of users to transfer and securely store their data immediately after completing their experiments using the dedicated USB devices provided by the staff and copy the files to the User-PC.
All PCs that are connected to the network allow users to transfer data directly using platforms such as: drive.boku.ac.at, files.boku.ac.at, BOKU Box, Drop Box, or similar services. If you require assistance with data transfer or access, please do not hesitate to contact FBP staff.
Users are absolutely not allowed to use any USB devices other than those provided by FBP for data transfer. The connection to the BOKU IT-System is strictly forbidden from private computers.
Please be aware that neither the User PC nor the USB transfer devices are intended for long-term data storage. All user data will be deleted from these devices without prior warning.
