Facilities - Light Isotope Mass Spectrometry Laboratory

The Light Isotope Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (LIMSL) is a dedicated climate controlled laboratory that houses three stable isotope ratio mass spectrometers (two ThermoFinnigan Delta XP's and one Delta V) and a variety of peripheral devices for the analysis of light stable isotopes in both organic and inorganic material. The peripheral devices include two elemental analysers (ThermoFinnigan Flash EA and a Eurovector) for the combustion of samples and measurement of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotopes.  Additionally, we have a ThermoFinnigan TC/EA (with zero blank autosampler) for the measurement of oxygen and hydrogen and a ThermoFinnigan Surveyor Liquid Chromotograph (LC) and mass spectrometer interface (Isolink) for the measurement of compound specific carbon isotopes in single compounds such as amino acids.

Panorama of the LIMSL (from left to right: TC/EA and FlashEA and DeltaXP, LC-Isolink and the EuroVector EA).

The ThermoFinnigan LC and IsoLink coupled to one of our DeltaXP IRMS machines for compound specific carbon isotope analysis.

The LIMSL showing the back of the LC-IsoLink and DeltaXP and the EuroVector EA and DeltaV. The latter of these is used for the measurement of sulphur isotopes.

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