Stable Isotope Ecology Laboratory

SUERC’s Stable Isotope Ecocogy Laboratory provides carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur isotope measuring facilities. We house a large range of continuous-flow stable isotope massspectrometers and associated peripherals, and share kit and expertise with the geosciences laboratory.

We provide:

Direct experience of progressive developments in stable isotope ecology and mass spectrometry over the last thirty years.

Practical experience to visiting students (often via NEIF) of sample collection, preparation and measurement techniques.

We can measure the following types of samples routinely (those which are non-routine or in development are in parentheses). If there any related analytical techniques of interest then please contact us:

• δ¹³C of organic samples/constituents
• δ¹⁵N of organic samples/constituents
• δ³⁴S of organic samples/constituents
• δ²H of organic samples
• (δ¹⁸O of organic samples)
• δ²H of waters
• δ¹⁸O of waters
• δ¹³C of carbonates
• δ¹⁸O of carbonates
• δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC)

The node operates five mass spectrometers:-

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Delta Q IRMS with Elementar Pyrocube elemental analyser for rapid throughput rapid throughput simultaneous δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of organic matter. This is our “workhorse” instrument, and has the potential (coupled to the an Isolink) to measure δ³⁴S as well in organic material.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Delta V Plus IRMS with IsoLink Flash HT elemental analyser for simultaneous δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S of small or low S-concentration organic samples.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Delta V Plus IRMS with Thermo TC/EA for rapid throughput δ²H and/or δ¹⁸O analysis of organic material. This incorporates a Eurovector UniPrep autosampler.
• Elementar Vision IRMS and Pyrocube elemental analyser for simultaneous δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S of large organic samples.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Delta V Plus with a Gas Bench II, for natural abundance isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen in waters. This also has the potential for several other types of analyses, including δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of carbonates and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC).

We also of course have access to the entire instrument portfolio of the stable isotope laboratory.