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| ENRI-SIL Equipment/Capabilities |
The laboratory houses a ThermoFinnigan Delta Plus XP continuous flow mass spectrometer with four gas preparation systems for analysis of stable isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen. |
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Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
(ThermoFinnigan Delta plus XP)
TheThermoFinnigan isotope ratio mass spectrometer is fed by four analytical streams. An elemental analyzer (EA), 2-thermal combustion elemental analyzers (1 for solids and 1 for liquids), and a Finnigan Gas Bench ll are connected to the Delta plus mass spectrometer. The EA, TC/EA and Gas Bench ll are connected via Finnigan ConFlo III interfaces. |
Costech Instruments – Elemental Combustion System (EA)
The EA is used for analysis of δC, δN, δ13C and δ15N in solid samples, including plants, soils, organisms, hair, and sediments. Samples are placed in tin cups and introduced to the elemental analyzer with a zero-blank auto-sampler. The sample is combusted in the presence of oxygen at 1050 degrees Celsius. Combustion gases are then carried in a stream of helium through a reduction column, a water trap and finally a GC column where the gases are separated. Final combustion products N2 and CO2 are introduced to the Delta plus XP by the Conflo lll and δ13C and δ15N are determined. For some δ13Corg analyses, samples are first treated first with HCl to remove carbonates and then dried before placing the samples into tin cups. |
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Thermal Combustion Elemental Analyzers (TC/EA)
The two TC-EAs are used for sample pyrolysis and continuous flow analysis of 2H and 18O water and 2H in minerals. The TC/EA is at present only being used for liquid samples, although solids can also be analysed. Liquids are introduced by autosampler into the furnace tube at 1450 oC and pyrolyzed. The component hydrogen and oxygen gases are carried to the mass spectrometer in helium carrier, via a Finnigan Conflo III interface. |
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Finnigan Gas Bench II
The Gas Bench is used for automated acid digestion and analysis of 13C and 18O isotopes in carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite, magnesite, hydromagnesite, siderite, ankerite) and analysis of gases, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in fluids. Sample and standard mineral powders are treated with phosphoric acid in sealed glass exetainers that have been flushed with helium. The CO2 produced is introduced into the mass spectrometer in continuous flow mode, using helium as the carrier gas. The gas from the sample is run along with reference CO2 gas of known composition. DIC is analysed on the gas bench by putting 600 microlitres of the sample water in a sealed exetainer. The exetainer is flushed with helium to replace air in the headspace and to sparge CO2 dissolved in the water. Phosphoric acid is added, the sample is shaken then left to equilibrate for one hour. The CO2 produced is introduced into the mass spectrometer in continuous flow mode. |
Satorius cp 2p Microbalance |
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