Home Instruments & Equipments Isotope-Chemistry (IC) unit EA & EA/GA-IRMS

EA & EA/GA-IRMS

Equipment dedicated to isotopic analysis (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and %C and %N content in wood, plant tissues, soil, and gases at natural or enriched abundance.

An Elemental Analyzer (EA) using the Dumas method for solid samples and a Gas Analyzer (GA) for gas samples (CO2/CH4), coupled to an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS). Organic carbon and nitrogen from finely ground and micro-weighed solid samples in tin capsules are converted into pure elemental gases through high-temperature combustion/reduction reactions. The gases are then dried, purified, and separated. After concentrations are measured using a thermal conductivity detector (TCD), the gases are transferred to the IRMS via a carrier gas (He). Each gas molecule is ionized under high voltage, and the resulting ions are separated in a magnetic field according to their masses. Different isotopologues are collected in Faraday cups, and the results are normalized and standardized.

Three configurations are available: EA only, EA-IRMS, or GA-IRMS.

Applications:

  • Applications / Research Topics
  • Dynamics of metabolites and C/N allocation
  • Modelling of biogeochemical cycles (soil-tree-atmosphere continuum)
  • Water-use efficiency
  • Functioning of trophic networks

 

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By: CM Publication date: 17 January 2022 Modification date: 26 August 2025