Acquisition of a Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer and Supporting Instrumentation for Marine Biogeochemical and Paleoceanographic Studies [MRI/RUI]

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0320940AltabetThis Major Research Instrumentation award to the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth supports acquisition of an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS), a high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) to continue and extend research into biogeochemistry and paleoceanography, emphasizing nitrogen cycling in the marine environment. The IRMS replaces an existing, aging and increasingly unreliable instrument, and is intended to improve throughput and reliability and maintain the necessary high precision this work requires. The IRMS system includes a continuous-flow interface and elemental analyzer for CNS, as well as a gas chromatograph for compound-specific analyses, and a gas handling system for nitrate. The HPLC will be mainly used for amino acid concentration analysis, extending the capabilities of the lab into a new area. The QMS will be used for two purposes. In the laboratory, it will be used to troubleshoot the IRMS preparation system, particularly to detect leaks. The second application is as a seagoing instrument for shipboard high precision gas ratio analysis, especially addressing N2/Ar. The instrumentation will be incorporated into teaching and research involving both undergraduate and graduate students at U Mass, both on the Dartmouth campus, and system-wide via the new Intercampus Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology. The award is supported by the Ocean Sciences Division of NSF.***