Instrumentation

• Orbitrap Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer - While we are currently using our orbitrap to analyze a near-complete isotope composition of sulfate, this state-of-the-art instrument can measure all the things.
• Carbonate - δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, Δ₄₇, Δ₄₈ - We are currently using a Nu Perspective with NuCarb for a dual-inlet based carbon and oxygen isotope measurement of CO₂ evolved from phosphoric acid digested carbonates.
• Carbonate - Δ₄₇ - We also still use a Thermo MAT253 with 10-position multiport to automatically introduce and analyze purified CO₂ from pyrex flame-sealed ampoules for bulk and clumped isotopes. CO₂ is purified using our semi-automated preparation line to digest large quantities of carbonate in phosphoric acid.
• Carbonate - δ¹⁷O - We use two Thermo MAT253s to automatically introduce and analyze purified CO₂ from pyrex flame-sealed ampoules for oxygen isotopes and purified O₂ from a custom manifold for oxygen isotopes. These two measurements allow for the calculation of the oxygen-17 composition of the parent carbonate material.
• Nitrate - δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, δ¹⁷O - We use the bacterial denitrifier method to reduce nitrate to nitrous oxide with subsequent purification and analysis of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes using a Thermo Finnigan Precon and GasBench coupled to a DeltaPlus Advantage isotope ratio mass spectrometer.
• Solid - δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N - We use elemental analysis to combust, convert, and purify carbon and nitrogen from solid materials into CO₂ and N₂ for the analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes using a Costech elemental analyzer coupled to a Thermo MAT253 isotope ratio mass spectrometer.
• Solid - δ³⁴S - We use elemental analysis to combust, convert, and purify sulfur from solid materials into SO₂ for the analysis of sulfur isotopes using an Eurovector elemental analyzer coupled to a Thermo MAT253 isotope ratio mass spectrometer.
• Solid - δ¹⁸O - We use the traditional conversion of bound-oxygen to carbon monoxide via a TC/EA coupled to a Thermo Finnigan MAT253 for a continuous flow based analysis of solids for their oxygen isotope composition.
• Sulfate or Nitrate - Δ¹⁷O - We use the silver salt pyrolysis method in a TC/EA coupled to a Thermo Finnigan MAT253 for a continuous flow based analysis of nitrate or sulfate oxygen isotopes.
• Water - δD, δ¹⁷O, δ¹⁸O, Δ¹⁷O - We use a Picarro L2140i cavity ring down spectrometer to measure all of the stable isotopes of water.
• Water - δD, δ¹⁸O - We also employ a Picarro L2120i cavity ring down spectrometer to measure hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of water.
• Water - Δ¹⁷O - We employ the water fluorination method with Cobalt (III) fluoride to convert H₂O into O₂ for subsequent triple oxygen isotope analysis using dual-inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometry on a Thermo MAT253.

• Water Δ¹⁷O Preparation Line - We convert H₂O to O₂ using Cobalt (III) fluoride with subsequent purification and triple oxygen isotope analysis.
• Low N Archean Rocks Preparation Line - Large quantities of low-N Archean Rocks are prepared for in-tube combustion for subsequent δ¹⁵N analysis.
• Carbonate ¹⁷O - We use a custom vacuum line to equilibrate CO₂ from carbonate and cylinder O₂ over a hot platinum catalyst for the calculation of the oxygen-17 composition of the parent carbonate material.