The TOC-L Shimadzu device measures total organic carbon (TOC).

The Geochemistry group is equipped with clean laboratory facilities used for low-blank sample preparation and element separation for isotope abundance measurements and concentration determinations of different elements in rock samples and minerals. Pre-filtered air using various pre-filters and HEPA (H13) filters are employed as well as a slight overpressure, compared to the outside air, to produce clean-lab conditions. Our Clean Laboratory (a total of ca. 105 m²) consists of two separate …

Here we perform high-temperature and high-pressure digestions:

• Parr pressure vessels,
• Borosilicate glass Carius tubes at 220-250 °C and 320 °C (reverse aqua regia for Re-Os, PGE, Au),
• Quartz glass vessels in high-pressure asher HPA-S up to 320 °C (reverse aqua regia for Re-Os, PGE, Au),
• Glassy carbon vessels in high-pressure asher HPA-S up to 260 °C (HF-HNO₃).

A LECO Truspec CHN + S-Add-On Elemental Analyzer is used for solids, aqueous and paste-like samples to determine carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S).

ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) or plasma source mass spectrometry represents the most sensitive and flexible method for the analysis of mass fractions of trace elements in geomaterials (rocks, minerals, water) and in chemical or technical products. The advantage of the method lies in the nearly complete ionization of many elements, which is achieved by using argon plasma at temperatures of up to 7000 °C and fast data acquisition. The Thermo Electron Element XR in the AB …

An Avio 220 Max device is used for the determination of various elements such as heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, etc.), alkali and alkaline earth metals etc. in aqueous solutions.

A laser diffractometer LS 13320 PIDS from Beckman-Coulter is employed for single samples to determine the particle size within a range between 17 nm to 2000 µm.

In June 2022, a new Mass Spectrometer was installed in the Geochemistry labs at the Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin. The Neoma instrument represents a new generation of MC-ICP-MS instruments, and its acquisition was jointly funded by the DFG and Freie Universität Berlin to support TRR 170 research. It provides various technical advances that result in excellent sensitivity, large mass dispersion and enhanced mass …

A Bartington MS2 device is used to determine the magnetization of sediment and solids. Sediment cores (sensor MS2C) and single samples with defined volume can be analyzed (sensor MS2B).

The Geochemistry Group manages a mineral separation lab to obtain minerals for geochronology and geochemical studies. The lab includes a ceramic plate jaw crusher, ball mills, a Frantz Magnetic Separator (separation of minerals according to magnetic susceptibility), sieves, and heavy liquids for density separation.