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Stable isotope facilities at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels

The Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) lab is maintained jointly by ANCH (dept. of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry) and GEOL (dept. of Geology, isotope geology and paleoenvironments). Our current equipment consists of :

The Microdrill

Delta E - still in good condition

GC/C/TC

Flash1112 EA

►A dual inlet ThermoFinnigan delta +XL which can be used for d¹³C or d¹⁸O analysis of CO₂ samples extracted from carbonates or after equilibration with water, but which is also interfaced with a Kiel III device for the automated analysis of d¹³C and d¹⁸O on carbonates. For the latter, the lab also features a Microdrill device.

►A ThermoFinnigan delta +XL (continuous flow type), interfaced with a Flash EA1112 elemental analyser via a Conflo III interface and with a HP6890 GC with a GC/C/TC interface(combustion and pyrolysis). The EA is routinely used for d¹³C and d¹⁵N analysis on organic samples, but is also equipped with a gas injection port which allows the analysis of d¹³C on dissolved organic carbon (DIC), d¹⁸O analysis of water samples and dissolved oxygen, and d¹⁵N analysis of gaseous or dissolved N₂. The GC/C is currently mainly used for d¹³C analysis on phospholipid fatty acids from sediments. A Thermo HiPerTOC analyser (TOC/DOC/DIC) has been recently installed, which we plan to link to the IRMS for automated d¹³C measurements on DOC and DIC.

►A dual inlet Finnigan delta E, used mainly for d¹³C and d¹⁸O analysis on CO₂samples extracted from carbonates or after equilibration with water. The delta E also has a custom-built open split interface through which it can be coupled to a Carlo Erba NA1500 elemental analyser for the analysis of d¹³C on organic samples, taking reference gas from one of the bellows.

The IRMS lab can also provide the following analyses for external users :

Type of analysis Method/instrument used Indicative price (in €) per sample

d¹³C and/or d¹⁵N analysis on organic matter samples EA-IRMS (delta +XL) 15-25

d¹³C and/or d¹⁸O in carbonates Kiel III (delta +XL) 15-20

d¹⁸O of water samples EA-IRMS (delta +XL) 25

d¹⁸O of water samples off-line extraction, measured on either of the dual inlet machines contact prof. Eddy Keppens (ekeppens@vub.ac.be)

d¹⁸O of dissolved oxygen EA-IRMS (delta+XL) 25

d¹⁵N of dissolved/gaseous N₂ EA-IRMS (delta+XL) 25

d¹³C analysis on PLFA GC/C/IRMS (delta+XL) Enquire

d¹³C in dissolved inorganic carbon EA-IRMS (delta +XL) 25

Other types of analysis may be possible upon request. Prices indicated are merely indicative and will depend on the degree of collaboration, the number of samples and the extent to which sample preparation and data processing has to be performed by our own staff. For enquiries on sample analysis, contact David Gillikin (David.Gillikin@vub.ac.be) or Steven Bouillon (steven.bouillon@vub.ac.be).

Last update : November, 2004
http://www.vub.ac.be/ANCH/IRMS.html

Home \| Staff \| Research \| Expertise \| Publications \| Education \| IRMS lab \| News \|

Stable isotope facilities at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels

The Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) lab is maintained jointly by ANCH (dept. of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry) and GEOL (dept. of Geology, isotope geology and paleoenvironments). Our current equipment consists of :
The Microdrill	Delta E - still in good condition	GC/C/TC	Flash1112 EA

►A dual inlet ThermoFinnigan delta +XL which can be used for d¹³C or d¹⁸O analysis of CO₂ samples extracted from carbonates or after equilibration with water, but which is also interfaced with a Kiel III device for the automated analysis of d¹³C and d¹⁸O on carbonates. For the latter, the lab also features a Microdrill device.
►A ThermoFinnigan delta +XL (continuous flow type), interfaced with a Flash EA1112 elemental analyser via a Conflo III interface and with a HP6890 GC with a GC/C/TC interface(combustion and pyrolysis). The EA is routinely used for d¹³C and d¹⁵N analysis on organic samples, but is also equipped with a gas injection port which allows the analysis of d¹³C on dissolved organic carbon (DIC), d¹⁸O analysis of water samples and dissolved oxygen, and d¹⁵N analysis of gaseous or dissolved N₂. The GC/C is currently mainly used for d¹³C analysis on phospholipid fatty acids from sediments. A Thermo HiPerTOC analyser (TOC/DOC/DIC) has been recently installed, which we plan to link to the IRMS for automated d¹³C measurements on DOC and DIC.
►A dual inlet Finnigan delta E, used mainly for d¹³C and d¹⁸O analysis on CO₂samples extracted from carbonates or after equilibration with water. The delta E also has a custom-built open split interface through which it can be coupled to a Carlo Erba NA1500 elemental analyser for the analysis of d¹³C on organic samples, taking reference gas from one of the bellows.

The IRMS lab can also provide the following analyses for external users :

Type of analysis	Method/instrument used	Indicative price (in €) per sample
d¹³C and/or d¹⁵N analysis on organic matter samples	EA-IRMS (delta +XL)	15-25
d¹³C and/or d¹⁸O in carbonates	Kiel III (delta +XL)	15-20
d¹⁸O of water samples	EA-IRMS (delta +XL)	25
d¹⁸O of water samples	off-line extraction, measured on either of the dual inlet machines	contact prof. Eddy Keppens (ekeppens@vub.ac.be)
d¹⁸O of dissolved oxygen	EA-IRMS (delta+XL)	25
d¹⁵N of dissolved/gaseous N₂	EA-IRMS (delta+XL)	25
d¹³C analysis on PLFA	GC/C/IRMS (delta+XL)	Enquire
d¹³C in dissolved inorganic carbon	EA-IRMS (delta +XL)	25

Other types of analysis may be possible upon request. Prices indicated are merely indicative and will depend on the degree of collaboration, the number of samples and the extent to which sample preparation and data processing has to be performed by our own staff. For enquiries on sample analysis, contact David Gillikin (David.Gillikin@vub.ac.be) or Steven Bouillon (steven.bouillon@vub.ac.be).

Last update : November, 2004 http://www.vub.ac.be/ANCH/IRMS.html