An Automated 15N, 13C Analyzer for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas

为德克萨斯大学海洋科学研究所购买一台自动化的15N， 13C分析仪，以取代25年的同位素比质谱仪和相关的高真空样品制备线。虽然目前的系统已经分析了数以万计的样本，但它目前无法操作，需要进行大修。然而，由于该系统的年龄，其相对原始的技术，以及几个用户的需求，从长远来看，对仪器的任何维修都不太可能具有成本效益或满足研究所科研人员的期望。相反，购买一台新的分析仪代表了技术能力的实质性进步，这将为研究所的科学家开辟更多的研究途径，并为目前资助的研究项目提供同位素数据。建议和目前资助的研究途径包括微生物学，生态学，生理和化学研究。本研究将利用碳、氮等生物活性元素的稳定同位素组成来描绘代谢途径，了解自然环境中的食物网，确定这些元素在生态系统中的来源、转化和命运。所提出的分析仪是一种紧凑的仪器，可确定气体，固体和液体在其自然状态下的碳和氮同位素比，只需最少的样品制备。由于样品处理和同位素分析集成在一个单元中，因此避免了在高真空线上进行昂贵且耗时的样品制备，随后将纯化的样品气体转移到质谱仪。与研究所科学家目前可用的系统相比，拟议系统的另一个优点是，可以在一台仪器上分析具有天然丰度的13C和15N同位素的样品以及用于示踪剂研究的同位素修正样品。

Purchase of an automated 15N, 13C analyzer for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute to replace a 25 year old isotope ratio mass spectrometer and associated high vacuum sample preparation lines is proposed. Although tens of thousands of samples have been analyzed using the present system, it is currently inoperable and requires a major overhaul. However, because of the system's age, its relatively primitive technology, and demand by several users, any repairs to the instrument are unlikely to be cost effective over the long term or meet the expectations of the scientific research staff at the Institute. Instead, the purchase of a new analyzer represents a substantial advance in technological capabilities which will open additional avenues of research for the scientists at the Institute as well as providing isotopic data for currently funded research programs. The proposed and currently funded research avenues include microbiological, ecological, physiological and chemical studies. This research will use the stable isotope compositions of bioactive elements, such as C and N, to delineate metabolic pathways, understand food webs in natural environments, and determine the sources, transformations and fates of these elements in ecosystems. The proposed analyzer is a compact instrument which determines the carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios of gases, solids and liquids in their natural state with minimal sample preparation. Expensive and time consuming sample preparation on high vacuum lines with subsequent transfer of purified sample gases to a mass spectrometer is avoided in the proposed system since sample processing and isotopic analysis are integrated into one unit. An additional advantage of the proposed system over those presently available to Institute scientists is that samples with natural abundance of the 13C and 15N isotopes as well as isotopically amended samples used in tracer studies can be analyzed on one instrument.