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Laboratory for stable Isotopes and elemental analyses in sediments and water samples

In our laboratory are being measured the stable isotopes of the light elements Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O) and Hydrogen (H) in different terrestrial climate archives such as lake sediments and speleothems as well as in precipitation and surface water.

Stable isotopes are nonradioactive nuclides of one element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons and with this different atomic mass. This results in different physical properties. The stable isotope ratios of these elements in water, organic and carbonates may reflect environmental conditions like changes in precipitation and temperature.

The shift in mass ratios is very low. These changes can be measured with high sensitive Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) or Cavity-Ring-Down-Spektroskopie (CRDS).

Reference: "Vom Monitoring zum Klimaarchiv" | doi:10.2312/GFZ.syserde.07.01.2

Source
IRMS DELTAV Advantage + GasbenchII
Gasbench vials
MAT253 + KIEL IV
IRMS (source, magnet, analyzer)
MAT253 Dual Inlet
Carbonate reaction device
IRMS + Elemental Analyzer
ConFlow III Interface
Micro balance
Elemental analyzer
PICARRO Wasser Isotopen Analysator
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IRMS MAT253 (ThermoFisher Scientific) and KIEL IV carbonate device

Instruments:

  • IRMS MAT253 (ThermoFisher Scientific)
  • KIELIV carbonate device

Applications:

  • δ13C and δ18O in smallest samples (10 to 100 µg) with highest precision (Stdw. <0.06‰)
  • δ13C, δ18O in CO2
IRMS DELTA V Advantage (ThermoFisher Scientific) and Gasbench II

Instruments:

  • IRMS DELTA V Advantage (ThermoFisher Scientific)
  • Gasbench II

Applications:

  • δ13C und δ18O in bulk carbonates (100 to 250 µg) (Stdw. <0.08‰)

Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (Picarro L2120-i und L2130-i)

Instruments:

  • Picarro L2120-i
  • Picarro L2130-i

Applications:

  • δ18O und dD in water samples

IRMS DELTAplusXL and CarloErba elemental analyser

Instruments:

  • IRMS DELTAplusXL (ThermoFisher Scientific)
  • CarloErba elemental analyser NC2500 (EA)

Applications:

  • δ13Corg, TOC, und δ15N, TN in sediments

EA-CN Elementar analyser (Eurovector)

Instruments:

  • EA-CN Elementar analyser (Eurovector)

Applications:

  • Total carbon an nitrogen (TC, TN)
  • Organic carbon after in situ acid treatment (TOC)

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