ISOLAB Facility – Isotopes in Biogenic Silica
AWI - Alfred Wegener Institute
last updated: July 19, 2023
About the Laboratory
ISOLAB Facility – Isotopes in Biogenic Silica
AWI - Alfred Wegener Institute
@ Geosciences / Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems
This Laboratory
is part of:
- ISOLAB Facility – Stable Isotope Lab AWI Potsdam laboratory complex
- Networks: Geo.X
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Description
We use a PDZ Europa 2020 Mass Spectrometer (MS-2020; now supplied by Sercon Ltd., UK) with a coupled self-constructed laser fluorination line for analyzing stable oxygen isotopes in biogenic silica samples (diatoms, radiolaria, sponge spicules). Our research focuses mainly on Arctic lake systems. For measuring stable oxygen isotopes in biogenic silica, a sediment sample undergoes several preparation steps including wet chemistry and heavy liquid separation to achieve a pure opal sample (> 97% SiO₂). δ¹⁸O and δ³⁰Si can be measured at the same sample aliquot in close cooperation with the Opal Isotope Lab in Bremerhaven.
Instruments
-
IRMS - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometer
Analytical Methods
-
Laser Fluorination
Oxygen Extraction -
IRMS - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry
Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry
Laboratory Keywords
In addition to the instruments and analytical methods listed above, these keywords help to describe the work done in the laboratory. This may include the type of samples, standard materials, specific preparative or analytical methods and specific instrument characteristics.
- Biogenic Opal
- Stable Oxygen Isotopes on Biogenic Silica (Diatoms)
- δ³⁰Si
- δ¹⁸O