In the Gas Chromatography Lab whole oil analyzes are performed with special attention to saturated hydrocarbons, highly volatile organic compounds, and lipid fractions (e.g. fatty acids, alcohols, sterols).

For complex geodynamic questions, a wide variety of analytical methods and procedures is employed in the analytics and preparation laboratory. Some of the analytic equipment is located in our group; others are operated in cooperation with GFZ sections. There is also close cooperation with other research institutes, universities, and industry. Interested scientists from outside the GFZ may also use our Preparation Laboratory through cooperation.

For quantification of organic (e.g. acetate, formate) and inorganic anions (e.g. chloride, sulfate) in aqueous samples ion exchange chromatography is used.
The quantification of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in aqueous samples and chromatographic separation of the DOC into different fractions and quantification of these fractions in aqueous samples is done via liquid chromatography – organic carbon detection (LC-OCD).

Bioinformatics is an essential component for high-precision analyses of microbial communities, active genes and the reconstruction of new genomes. Our laboratory uses a variety of open-source software and contribute to develop new software solution for DNA and RNA sequencing data. To execute computation intensive algorithms, we have access to different sources of GFZ hardware and operate an own server.

Brillouin-Interferometry
Knowledge of the elastic properties of geomaterials at high P-T conditions plays a central role in determining the composition of the Earth's interior. The Brillouin interferometer at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences enables us to determine the sound wave velocities in minerals, glasses and liquids. For this purpose, we use so-called Brillouin scattering, i.e. the inelastic scattering of laser light by thermally activated lattice vibrations (phonons) in …

The Bubble Lab is an experimental laboratory to study (a) fluids in hydrothermal terrain, and (b) volcano-tectonic processes. We simulate fluids and solids in two separate but closely related laboratories. First, we have an experimental laboratory for studying gas bubbles in hydrothermal and volcanic systems and an earthquake simulator. Second, we study the deformation and fracturing of scaled analog volcanoes and their intrusions. The goal of the Bubble & Volcano Lab is to study the …

Within the research group CLEAR we endeavor to understand large scale geological processes that operate deep inside planets. Our approach is to recreate high pressure-temperature conditions in the laboratory and examine various physical properties of minerals and rocks (in situ) using state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques. Specifically, we use statically- and dynamically-heated diamond anvil cells together with a pulsed time-resolved broadband optical probe and a precisely-synchronized …

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a method of thermal analysis for determining the amount of heat released or consumed by a sample at a defined temperature change. For this purpose, a container with sample material and an empty reference container are simultaneously exposed to the same temperature regime. During the investigated process (phase changes and/or chemical reactions), energy is consumed or released by the sample. These exothermic or endothermic processes are mirrored by …

The Cryo-Microbiology Labs are a lab complex focused on the biological aspects related to microbe-mineral interface reactions in cryogenic and non-cryogenic environments. The research addresses a series of culture-dependent and -independent techniques as well as the characterization of the dynamics of dissolved and particulate carbon in various environmental samples. The laboratory complex Cryo-Microbiology Labs consists of several sub-modules. For more details, please see the individual …

The Culture Lab is equipped with two low-temperature incubators (Percival LT-36VL and E-36VL) and two refrigerators to grow various types of algae under different light conditions and temperatures, including UV-A and UV-B.

Cultures can also be grown on an orbital shaker that can be placed inside the incubator.

Both the LT-36VL and the E-36VL have a white light intensity of up to 1,450 µmol/m-2/s-1, a UV-A light intensity of up to 40 W/m², and a UV-B light intensity of up to 1 W/m². All …