The Centre is well equipped for stable isotope studies and offers a range of analytical and interpretive services to researchers both within UWA and in the broader scientific community.

We use the following instrumentation:

SerCon Elemental Analyser (Gas Solid / Liquid Preparation Unit)

Coupled with a 20-22 Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (Sercon, Crewe/ UK) δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ³⁴S, C%, N%, S% in natural solid samples (plants, soils and animal tissues) and precipitated or extracted sulphates and sulphites (for example, from water samples).

Picarro Cavity Ring-down Spectrometer L2130-i

With ChemCorrect software δ²H and δ¹⁸O of liquid and vapour water samples.

Picarro Cavity Ring-down Spectrometer L2140-i

With ChemCorrect software and microcombustion unit - high resolution  δ²H,  δ¹⁸O and δ¹⁷O of liquid and vapour water samples. 

Delta XL Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (Thermo/Germany) connected with:

• GasBench II (GB) δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O in carbonates, δ¹³C in DIC (Dissolved Inorganic Carbon), δ¹³C in CO₂
• Thermal Conversion /Elemental Analyser (TC/EA) δ¹⁸O in organic materials, phosphates, sulphates and nitrates.

Delta V Plus Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (Thermo /Germany) connected with:

• Thermo Elemental Analyser Flush 1112 via Conflo IV δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, C%, N%, in natural solid samples (plants, soils and animal tissues) and precipitated or extracted sugars, cellulose, nitrates and other compounds.
• Finnigan LC-IsoLink δ¹³C in DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) in water extracts and pre-concentrated water samples.

HORIBA Aqualog Fluorometer

Combined UV/Vis spectrometer and Fluorometer allowing rapid simultaneous measurement of both absorbance spectra and fluorescence Excitation-Emission Matrices.
-Specifically designed for natural organic matter analysis
-Wavelength range: Ex = 200 - 800nm,  Em = 250 - 800nm
-Software support with Eigenvector SOLO package for in-house component decomposition by PARAFAC analysis. Direct EEM export to MATLAB toolkits DOMFluor and DrEEM 

Additional major devices and equipment

Ball mills for sample grinding and homogenisation.

Freeze-dryer: Virtis Benchtop 2K.

Microbalances: Sartorius MC210S (0.01mg) Mettler Toledo X6T (0.001 mg).

Vacuum line for cryogenic extraction of water from soil and plant samples.

Equilibration method for analysis of water from soils and small biological samples.

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