Laborinfrastruktur

Our core competence is the investigation of biogeochemical processes in the environment by monitoring natural isotope ratios and isotope labels of the bioelements C, H, N, O and S. The isotope methods we use allow us to describe and quantify material flows in ecosystems. This is done in a technical depth that is not achieved by conventional methods.

The working group for stable isotopes (Iso-Group) currently has four mass spectrometers with different peripheries for the determination of isotope ratios for the elements C, H, N, O, Cl and S. The samples are measured against a reference standard and the results are given in promill. A distinction can be made between total and component-specific analysis.

EA-IRMS (Delta V Advantage):

  • Elemental analyzer (Thermo Scientific Flash 2000) for sample conversion (gaseous)
  • Gas chromatography column (GC) for the separation of individual components
  • Continuous flow gas interface (Thermo Scientific ConFlo IV) for flow adjustment and reference gas introduction
  • Mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific Delta V Advantage) for determination of 13C/12C and 15N/14N isotope ratios for (solid) samples

The measurement accuracy is less than ± 0.2 ‰ for C and ± 0.3 ‰ for N.

TC/EA-IRMS (Delta PLUS XP):

  • Thermal Combustion Elemental Analyzer (Thermo Finnigan TC/EA, Thermo Quest Flash 1112) for sample conversion (gaseous)
  • Gas chromatography column (GC) for the separation of individual components
  • Continous flow gas interface (Thermo Finnigan ConFlo III) to adjust the flow and to introduce the reference gas
  • Mass spectrometer (Thermo Finnigan Delta PLUS XP) for the determination of isotope ratios 18O/16O, D/H (2H/1H) and 34S/32S for (solid) sample.

The measuring accuracy is less than ± 3 ‰ for H and ± 0,40 ‰ for O.

GC-IRMS (Delta S):

  • Autosampler (Finnigan MAT A200S and IMT VSP 4000 Purge & Trap)
  • Gas chromatography column (GC) for separation and focusingOxidation reactor for sample conversion
  • GC-Combustion Interface (Finnigan MAT) to transfer the gaseous samples and reference gases to the mass spectrometer
  • Mass spectrometer (Finnigan Delta S) for the determination of isotope ratios 13C/12C.

The measuring accuracy is below ± 0.5 ‰ for C.

GC-IRMS (Delta V Advantage):

This device arrangement can be modified according to requirements.

Autosampler (IMT VSP 4000 Purge & Trap or CTC CombiPAL)

  • Gas chromatograph (thermo scientific trace GC ultra) for separation and focusing
  • Sample detection by quadrupole mass spectrometer (q-MS; Thermo Scientific ISQ) and/or sample conversion by oxidation or reduction reactor (Thermo Scientific GC Isolink)
  • Continuous flow gas management system (Thermo Scientific ConFlo IV) for the transfer of gaseous samples and reference gases to the IR mass spectrometer
  • Mass spectrometer (IRMS Thermo Scientific Delta V Advantage) for determination of isotope ratios 13C/12C, 37Cl/35Cl, 18O/16O.

The measuring accuracy is less than ± 0.5 ‰ for C, ± 5 ‰ for H and ± 0.8 ‰ for O.