Stable isotope laboratory for sediments and water

In the laboratories for stable isotopes in sediments and water, the isotope ratios of the light elements nitrogen (N), carbon (C) and oxygen (O) in continental geoarchives such as lake sediments and speleothems as well as oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) in precipitation and surface water are determined. This allows us to decipher changing environmental conditions and climate fluctuations in continental climate archives. For a better understanding of the archives, we use monitoring systems that record seasonal changes, the results of which can be transferred into the past. 

Laboratory for stable isotopes in sediments with isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) coupled to automatic sample preparation systems from Thermo Fisher Scientific
Laboratory for stable isotopes in sediments with isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) coupled to automatic sample preparation systems from Thermo Fisher Scientific (Photo: B. Schröder)
IRMS MAT 253 and KIEL IV carbonate preparation system for the δ¹³C und δ¹⁸O determination of carbonates
IRMS MAT 253 and KIEL IV carbonate preparation system for the δ¹³C und δ¹⁸O determination of carbonates (Foto: B. Schröder)
Top view of the IRMS MAT 253 with source - magnet - detector
Top view of the IRMS MAT 253 with source - magnet - detector (Foto: B. Schröder)
Ion source for ionizing the molecules of the gases released from a sample
Ion source for ionizing the molecules of the gases released from a sample (Photo: B. Schröder)
IRMS DELTA V Advantage with ConFlo IV for connection to the EA Isolink elemental analyzer for the determination of δ¹³C, TOC, TC und δ¹⁵N, TN
IRMS DELTA V Advantage with ConFlo IV for connection to the EA Isolink elemental analyzer for the determination of δ¹³C, TOC, TC und δ¹⁵N, TN (Photo: B. Schröder)
CMP 2 microbalance from Sartorius and tin capsules for sample preparation for elemental analysis
CMP 2 microbalance from Sartorius and tin capsules for sample preparation for elemental analysis (Photo: B. Schröder)
Cavity Ring Down Spectrometer (CRDS) from PICARRO for δ18O and δD determination of water samples
Cavity Ring Down Spectrometer (CRDS) from PICARRO for δ¹⁸O and δD determination of water samples (Photo: B. Schröder)
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Stable isotopes are non-radioactive nuclides of an element with the same number of protons and different numbers of neutrons and therefore different atomic masses. This results in different physical and chemical properties, which can lead to a shift in the isotope ratios in a substance (in our case organic matter, carbonate or water). The measured isotope ratios δ15N, δ13C, δ18O and δD form “fingerprints” of past environmental conditions and can thus indicate changes in precipitation, evaporation, temperatures, vegetation, nutrient input and organic productivity in our archives.

The shifts in isotope ratios in natural processes are often very small. These changes can be measured very precisely using isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) or laser spectroscopy (cavity ring down spectroscopy - CRDS).

We have presented key aspects of our work together with the Laboratory for Dendroclimatology using the example of oxygen isotopes here: "Vom Monitoring zum Klimaarchiv"  |  https://doi.org/10.2312/GFZ.syserde.07.01.2

IRMS MAT253 and KIEL IV carbonate digestion unit from Thermo Fisher Scientific
IRMS MAT253 and KIEL IV carbonate digestion unit from Thermo Fisher Scientific (Photo: B. Schröder)

Instruments:

  • IRMS MAT253 (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
  • KIEL IV Carbonate Digestion Unit

Measurement of:

  • δ13C and δ18O in smallest carbonate samples (10 to 100 µg) with highest precision
  • δ13C, δ18O in pure CO2 gases
IRMS DELTA V Advantage and Gasbench II from Thermo Fisher Scientific
IRMS DELTA V Advantage and Gasbench II from Thermo Fisher Scientific (Photo: B. Schröder)

Instruments:

  • IRMS DELTA V Advantage (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
  • Gasbench II

Measurement of:

  • δ13C and δ18O in bulk carbonates (100 to 250 µg)

IRMS DELTA V Advantage connected via a ConFlo IV from Thermo Fisher Scientific to an EA Isolink elemental analyzer
IRMS DELTA V Advantage connected via a ConFlo IV from Thermo Fisher Scientific to an EA Isolink elemental analyzer (Photo: B. Schröder)

Instruments:

  • Elemental analyzer EA Isolink for combustion of the sample and chromatographic separation of the released gases
  • ConFlo IV universal interface between mass spectrometer and sample preparation device
  • Isotope ratio mass spectrometer IRMS DELTA V Advantage from Thermo Fisher Scientific

Measurement of:

  • δ13Corg, TOC (total organic carbon) - weigthing in silver capsules + HCl
  • δ13C, TC (total carbon) - weighting in tin capsules
  • δ15N, TN (total nitrogen) - weighting in tin capsules

Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer L2120-i and L2130-i from PICARRO
Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer (CDRS) L2120-i and L2130-i from PICARRO (Photo: B. Schröder)

Instruments:

  • Picarro L2120-i with vaporizer and autosampler
  • Picarro L2130-i with vaporizer and autosampler

Measurement of:

  • δ18O and δD Analysis of small volume water samples (0.5 to 1.5 ml)

Applications:

  • Seawater monitoring
  • Surface and groundwater monitoring
  • Precipitation monitoring
  • Drip water from stalactites

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