Wolfson Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) facility

The Wolfson Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) facility supports in-house research, as well as academic and commercial services in environmental, paleoenvironmental, biological, archaeological and geological research.

The Wolfson Stable Isotope Laboratory is an established stable isotope facility with expertise in carbonate analysis (including corals, bulk carbonate, foraminifera and ostracods), providing traditional stable carbon and oxygen isotope data.

Since its establishment in 1996, the laboratory has supported a wide range of environmental, climate and ecological research, with particular strengths in carbonate analysis, elemental analysis and low-concentration nitrous oxide analysis from seawater samples.

The laboratory was partially funded by the Wolfson Foundation and is equipped with three gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS).

Contact and location

Contact

Dr Ulrike BaranowskiUlrike.Baranowski@ed.ac.uk+44 (0) 131 650 8506Manager of Wolfson Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer Lab
Professor Raja GaneshramR.Ganeshram@ed.ac.uk+44 (0) 131 650 7364Personal Chair of Geochemistry

View Dr Baranowski's full research profile

View Professor Ganeshram's full research profile

Location

Address: Room 224, Wolfson Laboratory, Grant Institute, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, James Hutton Road, EDINBURGH, EH9 3FE

Please note that parking on campus is strictly by permit only, and parking spaces are subject to availability. Commercial and external users should contact our staff about parking arrangements.

Access and costs

For the wider University and all external users:

Please contact the facility to discuss availability, as well as analytical requirements and charging information.  

For staff and students in the School of GeoSciences:

Access to the facility must be completed through a job request form, which can be found on the Wolfson Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) Facility intranet page.

Instrument capabilities and specification

The facility houses three gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) with a range of specialist interfaces, supporting several analytical techniques:

  • Carbonate isotope analysis – Rapid, high-precision analysis of sub-milligram carbonate samples, including corals, bulk carbonates, foraminifera and ostracods, to determine stable carbon and oxygen isotope compositions.
  • Low-concentration nitrous oxide analysis – A bespoke interface, based on the method described by Weigand et al. (2016), enables analysis of nitrate concentrations down to 2 µM in seawater. Samples are prepared offline using the denitrifier method, in which facultative denitrifying bacteria convert dissolved nitrate into nitrous oxide for nitrogen and oxygen isotope analysis.
  • Carbon and nitrogen isotopic data – Elemental analysers convert homogenised solid samples into the gas phase via flash combustion for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. The facility has particular expertise in sediments, plant material and coral symbionts.

The laboratory is also developing headspace equilibration methods for oxygen and hydrogen isotope analysis of water samples. Researchers interested in this capability are encouraged to get in touch.

The Wolfson IRMS suite doesn’t analyse isotopically enriched samples - e.g., experiments spiking plants with extreme isotope values - to ensure that the natural abundance isotopic range samples can run smoothly to the lowest concentrations possible without memory effects. These isotope systems are key for understanding past environmental conditions and climate change.

Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometers

  • A Thermo Delta plus Advantage interfaced with a Kiel Carbonate III preparation system. This system will run samples as small as 30 mircograms in size.
  • A Thermo Delta V interfaced with a gas bench and NA2500 for C:N analysis linked via a ConFlow III to the IRMS.
  • An elementar precisION interfaced with an Elemental Analyser, a bespoke build Green house gas device for Nitrous oxide analysis, and isoflow for Carbonate analysis for samples below around 0.3 milligrams.

Small Research Facility (SRF)

This facility is operated as a Small Research Facility (SRF).

A Small Research Facility (SRF) is a facility or service provided by the School and used for research and teaching. They are also available for use by the wider community such as external academic or commercial use. Our SRF's are available for hire or on a consultancy basis. These charges are recognised by grant funders and can therefore form part of a grant submission.


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