Continuous flow mass spectrometer for light isotope analysis

本申请是为了购买一台同位素比质谱仪，以便与现有的元素分析仪相结合，并在连续气体流动模式下使用。虽然该仪器可用于轻元素(碳、氮、氧、氢和硫)的广泛同位素测量，但它将专门用于分析有机物质中的碳和氮含量以及同位素组成(13C/12C和15N/14N)。研究活动和培训涉及几个科学领域：海洋地质学、生态学、运动学、考古学、湖沼学、环境和土壤学、生态毒理学以及法医分析。重大研究项目涉及调查海洋沉积过程、沿海和湖泊沉积物中的碳通量和埋藏、加拿大边缘和北冰洋的海洋和气候变化、土壤中的有机物质在将污染物转移到水生系统和地下水中的作用、破译休闲湖泊中受污染的氮源、加拿大东部早期欧洲定居者的古饮食等。该仪器将取代一个几乎类似的仪器(可追溯到第一代连续流动仪器)，该仪器已于2010年8月坏掉并显示无法修理。在过去的12年里，平均每年使用该仪器分析5000个样品，以惠及来自UQAM、McGill、蒙特利尔大学、UQTR、INRS、UQAR的25名研究人员和约70名研究生。此外，几个研究生或本科生年复一年地使用这个实验室设施对学生进行动手培训。根据GEOTOP研究中心的政策，替换仪器预计将为同样庞大的科学界提供分析服务和培训高素质的人员，该研究中心将在其稳定同位素实验室托管设备，并将支持分配给该设施的技术人员的工资。

The present application is for the purchase of an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer to be coupled with an existing Elemental Analyzer and used in continuous gas-flow mode. Although the instrument may be used for a wide range of isotopic measurements for light elements (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and sulfur), it will be dedicated to the analysis of carbon and nitrogen content and isotopic composition (13C/12C and 15N/14N) in organic matter. Research activities and training fall into several scientific domains: marine geology, ecology, kinesiology, archaeology, limnology, environmental and soil sciences, ecotoxicology as well as forensic analysis. Major research projects concern investigations on marine sedimentary processes, carbon fluxes and burial in coastal and lacustrine sediments, ocean and climatic changes along Canadian margins and in the Arctic Ocean, the role of organic matter from soils in the transfer of pollutants into aquatic systems and groundwaters, the deciphering of contaminating nitrogen sources in recreational lakes, the paleodiets of early European settlers in Eastern Canada, etc. The instrument will replace a nearly similar one (dating from the first generation of continuous flow instruments) that has broken down in August 2010 and revealed impossible to repair. Over the last 12 years, an average of 5000 samples/year were analyzed using this instrument for the benefit of 25 researchers and about 70 graduate students from UQAM, McGill, University of Montreal, UQTR, INRS, UQAR, in particular. Moreover, several graduate or undergraduate courses have used this laboratory facility, year after year, for hands-on training of students. The replacement instrument is expected to provide analytical services and the training of highly qualified personal to a similarly large scientific community, in accordance with the policy of the GEOTOP research center, which will host the equipment, in its stable isotope laboratory, and will support the salaries of the technical staff assigned to this facility.