The Library at the Department of Chemistry was established in the last decade of the 19th century. It is well-stocked with latest books, journals, professional periodicals as well as access to HEC e-library. Books pertaining to all the disciplines of Chemistry are readily available for students, teachers and research scholars. The library is electronically linked with the University's Central Library through LIMS system. It facilitates the users to promptly locate their required material placed anywhere on the GCU premises.
The Department has the following teaching and research laboratories:
Teaching Labs| Description | Make/Model |
|---|---|
| Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer | Kappa Apex II Bruker, Germany |
| CHNSO Elemental Analyzer | Elementar, Vario micro cube, Germany |
| Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) | QP-2010, Shimadzu, Japan |
| High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) | LC 20T with Diode Array Detector; Shimadzu, Japan |
| E Com with UV, RI & ELSD Detectors; Altech, Hungry | |
| Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer | AA 7000 F with Autosampler and Hydride Vapour Generator, Shimadzu, Japan |
| Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) | BIO-RAD 2110 |
| UV/Visible Spectrophotometers (06) | UV-2300, Techom |
| UV-1700, Shimadzu | |
| Hitachi (02) | |
| Particle Size Analyzer | - |
| Fluorescence Spectrophotometer | - |
The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan sponsored the "Strengthening of Materials Chemistry" project and granted Rs. 38.5 millions in 2006. It resulted in the establishment of the Materials Chemistry Laboratory at the Department. Under the set-up of this project, the following facilities are currently available to the students and research scholars of GCU. Other R & D institutions and industries engaged in the development of new synthetic materials are offered these services on commercial basis as per University policy.
Single Crystal X-Ray Diffractometer
Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer KAPPA APEX II is the top of the line solution for structure determination of organic, organo-metallic and inorganic compounds. The instrument is equipped with 4-circle kappa goniometer with the very sensitive and fast CCD detector with 700 series Oxford Cryostream unit, which allows fast cooling to 100 K in just 20 minutes by a cold stream of Nitrogen gas. The 60 L dewar can supply cold Nitrogen gas for 4-5 days without refilling. Besides, it can be refilled with liquid Nitrogen without affecting the crystal temperature.
Various research groups working in the Department of Chemistry in the area of organic synthesis, co-ordination Chemistry, natural product isolation & characterization are actively using this facility.
The Vario Micro Cube Elemental Analyzer is being used for rapid determination of the Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulphur contents in organic and other type of materials. It has the capability of handling a wide variety of sample types; such as, solids, liquids, volatile and viscous samples in the field of pharmaceuticals, polymers, chemicals and energy. Based on the classical Pregl-Dumas method, samples are combusted in a pure Oxygen environment, with the resultant combustion gases measured in an automated fashion.
This instrument also incorporates a newly developed gas separation method, which utilizes time proven solutions. It adds an instrument with special performance for small and very small sample amounts of 1-10 mg or less.
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Shimadzu 7000 F has recently been procured by the Department of Chemistry. AAS is used to estimate exact amount of metal particles both major (e.g. Na, K, Ca, Mg) and trace elements (e.g. Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr etc) up to ppm (parts per million) level in food, pharmaceutical, water or any other types of samples. This instrument is equipped with Autosampler and HVG (Hydride Vapor Generator) that will help in estimating toxic elements like As, Hg, Sb up to ppb (parts per billion) level.
UV/Vis SpectrophotometersThe electronic spectra of the synthesized compounds or complexes can be obtained in the solutions using UV-Visible Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, UV-1700 with UV PC software). This system is also being used for performing Spectro-photometric titrations, measurement of stability constant and optimization of reaction conditions for the preparation of metal complex ions with organic ligands. Using this system, the Department has also established the facility for the measurement of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant activity of biological and abiological samples through ABTS, FRAP, DPPH methods.
Gas Chromatography-Mass SpectrometerThe Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer QP-2010 is being used for the analysis of volatile constituents in the samples of natural or synthetic origin. GC-MS has extensive application in forensic and pharmaceutical analysis of drugs. Various research groups in the Department working in the areas of natural products, organo-pharmaceutical synthesis, pharmaceutical analysis, pesticides process design and production are actively using this facility.
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (LC 20 AT-SHIMADZU) is being used for separation and qualitative / quantitative estimation of active and inactive ingredients in pharmaceutical drugs, micro-nutrients in food and pollutants in environmental samples.
Environmental analysis includes the study of pesticides, aflatoxins and their degradation products, whereas pharmaceutical analysis includes development of novel analytical methods for analysis of antiglaucoma, antilipidemic, antibiotic and antihypertensive drugs in pure state, pharmaceutical products and in human plasma.
The Department of Chemistry has acquired patent for Analytical Grade Salt (US Patent No.US8273321 B1) for pharmaceutical and chemical industries in year 2012 and have filed another US Patent for Nano-leucite Nitrogen Fertilizer, which enhances the efficiency of the Nitrogen fertilizers. The Department has signed MoUs with DESCON and NovaMed Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd. Under a model university - industry collaborative project the department develop water based laminating adhesive and technology transferred to DESCON. The Department of Chemistry has also developed process for the production of Humic Acids from indigenous sources and technology was transferred to RL Enterprises. Another process developed for the production of Maltodextrins from broken rice is ready for commercialization. The Department of Chemistry is providing testing services to industry and academic institutions for X-Ray Crystallography, HPLC method development and analysis of pharmaceutical drugs, effluent analysis on atomic absorption, elemental analysis on CHNS analyser and antioxidant activities of natural and synthetic drugs. For any kind testing services and update about process development please contact Dr. M. Jahangir Assistant Professor.
The department has established Research Groups in the following areas:
The Department of Chemistry is currently operating a prestigious society namely "Dunnicliff Chemical Society (DCS)". DCS is a forum for learning and skill development of students in the Department. It encourages co-curricular activities and organizes study tours, seminars and technical workshops. In last year the society organized activities in collaboration with anti-narcotic force, Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) and other law enforcement agencies. The Department of Chemistry is currently operating two societies namely "Dunnicliff Chemical Society" and "Ravian Forensic Society". DCS is a prestigious forum for learning and skill development of students in the Department. It encourages co-curriculum activities and organizes study tours, seminars and technical workshops. Whereas RFS was constituted in 2011 to keep our young graduates abreast of the application of scientific and analytical skills for crime scene investigation in connivance with anti-narcotic force, Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) and other law enforcement agencies and thus contributes in this area of dire national needs. Department of Chemistry, while celebrating International Year of Chemistry (IYC), arranged one National and another International Workshops on Crystallography & nan-omaterials. Chemistry week, many research presentations two poster sessions (where students from various Universities participated) quiz competitions and "first meeting of Pakistan Association of Crystallographys" were also organized. The Department also encourages the research projects at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Currently the Department is running many research projects in collaboration with industry and R & D organizations.
Beyond BSc (Hons.), M.Sc. Chemistry and MPhil Chemistry programs, the Department of Chemistry is also offering specialized market oriented programs in Forensic Sciences. The Forensic graduates can join police force, hospitals, Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), Law enforcement agencies, government laboratories, policy making/regulatory bodies and other such organizations, where collection, interpretation and presentation of scientific data is required. Beyond BSc (Hons.) and MPhil Chemistry programs the Department of Chemistry is also running specialized market oriented programs namely MS Pharmaceutical Chemistry and MS Forensic Chemistry. Pharmaceutical companies require quality control experts and trained pharmaceutical chemists capable of synthesizing new molecules. The graduates may also join teaching profession. The Forensic graduates can join police force, hospitals, Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), Law enforcement agencies, government laboratories, policy making/ regulatory bodies and other such organizations where collection, interpretation and presentation of scientific data is required. These graduates can also continue Ph.D. studies in basic disciplines of Chemistry.
Pharmaceutical and Forensic sciences. Government College University Lahore has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) to launch new academic programmes in forensic science and will help in training of our graduates (Forensic Chemistry) in crime scene investigation, evidence preservation, crime mapping, fingerprints and DNA markers and technologies and analytical techniques. The PFSA also showed interest in providing internship and job placement to GCU students besides giving research projects to the University's PhD students in the field of Forensic Science. The forensic agency would also facilitate GCU in upgrading and establishing Forensic Science laboratories.
Keeping in view of the importance of nanotechnology as an emerging cutting-edge technology, the University established the Nano-Chemistry Lab and Vice Chancellor Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman inaugurated the same on May 2015. The focus areas of the Lab is to advance research in the fields of Solar Cells, Nano-catalysis, Nano-filtration, Nano-forensics, Nano-drugs, Nano-fertilizers and Waste water treatment.
GC University Lahore has set an unprecedented national record of getting four United States patents in a short period of three years in the fields of Nanotechnology and Chemistry. The United States Patent and Trademark Office patented the University’s ‘nano-leucite for slow release nitrogen fertiliser and green environment’ ‘zinc oxide nanoflakes for treatment of pollutants’, ‘ZnO-SiO2 nanopowder for the development of latent fingerprints’ and ‘analytical grade salt’,. The University had also published 34 papers in repute referred journals on Nano-technology besides 04 books at the time of establishment of Nano-Chemistry Lab.
