The Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory (EBL) has two major research facilities:
1. Analytical Biogeochemistry Facility
2. Stable Isotopes Facility (Environmental Isotopes System, a central facility)
1. Analytical Biogeochemistry Facility
The Analytical Biogeochemistry Facility is located in Harker Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (ISE) Laboratory 455 and Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI) 144. These facilities are equipped with a series of analytical instruments that include a Coy anaerobic glove box (for redox-controlled experiments), Thermo biosafety cabinet (for biological experiments), Dionex 600 ion chromatography (IC), and Agilent high-performance ion chromatography (HPLC-MS) for anion and cation analyses), Micromeritics BET analyzer (for measuring particle surface and pore area), Labconco freeze drier (sample drying), Buchhi and Turbovap and Rotovap equipment (low-temperature evaporation), Katanax K1 fluxer (dissolving soil/sediment), biosafety cabinet, centrifuges (benchtop, micro- and high-speed), binocular microscope, magnetic separator, Millipore water purification system, temperature-controlled water baths, shakers, analytical pH and Eh meters, macro and microbalances, refrigerators, -80 C freezers, and incubators (RT to 1000 C).
Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory
The Stable Isotope Geochemistry Facility is now formally included in the Delaware Environmental Isotopes System (EIS) Science center at the Harker ISE Laboratory. It is a consolidated facility at UD for all stable isotope instrumentations. It equips thermochemical elemental analyzer (TC/EA; for pyrolysis of PO4 and SO4 oxyanions for O isotopes), elemental analyzer (EA; for combustion of carbonaceous and nitrogenous compounds for C, N isotopes, and GasBench (GB) for O isotopes in carbonates and water. These components are connected to a Thermo Delta V isotope ratio measuring mass spectrometer (IRMS) via a ConFlow IV. This mass spectrometer is capable of running stable isotopes of O, N, C, and other light elements.
The other isotope instruments in the facility at Delta V mass spectrometer with Flash smart EA, GC-MS-IRMS with several lines for gas and liquid separations. Additional details are listed on the EIS Laboratory webpage.