Laboratory of Isotope Biogeochemistry
The Laboratory of Isotope Biogeochemistry is a scientific technical facility of the Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) headed by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Gebauer.
Duties:
- Abundance analysis of stable isotopes (δD, δ13C, δ15N, δ18O) for the BayCEER members
- Development of advanced analytical techniques for the abundance analysis of stable isotopes together with the scientific units of BayCEER
- Advice of the scientific units in experimental design and practical experimentation with stable isotopes at natural abundance level and as tracers
- Own research projects using stable isotope abundance analysis
- Teaching courses on stable isotope applications in biogeochemistry using the available equipment
Services:
- Simultaneous determination of C and N isotope abundances (δ13C, δ15N) in the natural abundance range and of C and N concentrations in organic and inorganic solid samples using an EA-IRMS coupling
- Simultaneous determination of H/D and O isotope abundances (δD, δ18O) in the natural abundance range and of H and O concentrations in organic and inorganic solid and liquid samples using a TC-IRMS coupling
- Substance specific determination of N, O and C isotope abundances (δ15N, δ18O, δ13C) of atmospheric trace gases (specifically N2O and CH4) in the natural abundance range using a PreCon-GC-C-IRMS coupling
- Simultaneous determination of C and N isotope abundances and of C and N concentrations in organic and inorganic solid samples from tracer experiments using an EA-IRMS coupling. The 13C or 15N enrichment of these samples must be below an upper threshold of 1000 %o. For this reason a consultation of Prof. Gebauer already during the planning phase of tracer experiments is urgently recommended.