Analytical equipment

The working group is equipped with modern instrumentation for analysing a variety of materials for their stable isotopic composition. The laboratory is part of the Münster Isotope Research Center (MIRC), a national equipment center funded by the German Research Foundation.

Photos

ThermoScientific MAT 253

A ThermoScientific MAT 253 gas isotope mass spectrometer interfaced with a fluorination system for analysing multiple sulphur isotopes (32S, 33S, 34S, 36S). For this purpose, silver sulphide is prepared in Ni reactors with fluorine as sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

ThermoScientific Delta V Advantage
Flash EA IsoLink CN (elemental analyser) with autosampler and Con Flo IV box coupled with a ThermoScientific Delta V Advantage mass spectrometer.
© Historische und Regionale Geologie

ThermoScientific Delta V Advantage

A ThermoScientific Delta V Advantage gas isotope mass spectrometer for determining carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur isotopes. The equipment allows offline measurements of individual samples as well as measurements in continuous flow operation.

  • Our configuration consists of the following components:

    • a dual inlet system for measuring individual gas samples that were previously prepared offline
    • a Con Flo IV interface
    • a Flash EA IsoLink CN elemental analyser for preparing solid samples for the determination of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotopes
ThermoScientific Delta V Plus
ThermoScientific Delta V Plus mass spectrometer with GasBench II (left in the background), Con Flo III interface (middle in the background) and ThermoQuest TC/EA (on the Delta V Plus).
© Historische und Regionale Geologie

ThermoScientific Delta V Plus

A ThermoScientific Delta V Plus gas isotope mass spectrometer for determining carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotopes. The equipment enables measurements in continuous flow operation.

  • The following components are part of the device configuration:

    • a ConFlo III interface
    • a high temperature conversion unit (TC/EA, Thermo Quest) for sample preparation for the determination of oxygen isotope ratios in inorganic and organic samples
    • a Gas Bench II for fully automatic analysis of water, dissolved inorganic carbon and solid carbonates.
ELTRA CS 580
Front view of the CS 580 elementary analyser.
© Historische und Regionale Geologie

ELTRA CS 580

An ELTRA CS 580 Carbon Sulphur Elemental Analyser for the quantitative analysis of carbon and sulfur in solids.

Destillation450
Vacuum destillation line

Stable Isotope Laboratory

A stable isotope laboratory with standard off-line preparation techniques for carbon, oxygen and sulphur in liquid and solid samples of geological interest. The wet chemical preparation and/or the combustion techniques can be followed by cryogenic distillation in a glass vacuum line.