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Analysis of stable isotopes in amino acids (CSIA)

Since November 2015, stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon in 13 amino acids from various samples (e.g. microorganisms, particles, fish, whale baleen) are being measured in our laboratory as one of the few marine research laboratories worldwide that run this analytically challenging methodology. The GC-C-IRMS system for this analysis was jointly funded by the German Research Foundation (LO1820/4-1) and the Organic Chemistry Department of the IOW. The system is operated for project work and method development by the Aquatic Food Web group (BIO) as well as by Dipl. Ing. Dirk Wodarg and Prof. Dr. Detlef Schulz-Bull from the Organic Trace Substances group (CHE).

Gas Chromatographie-Verbrennungs-Isotopen Verhältnis Massenspektrometer

Instrumentation

  • Thermo MAT 253 IRMS

    • coupled with ConFlo IV, Thermo GC IsoLink and Trace GC Ultra

Measurements

  • Measurements of δ15N in amino acids Ala, Gly, Thr, Ser, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Asp, Glu, Phe, Tyr, Lys in microorganisms, particles, plankton, fish, whale baleen
  • Measurements of δ13C in amino acids Ala, Gly, Thr, Ser, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Asp, Glu, Phe, Tyr, Lys in microorganisms, particles, plankton, fish, whale baleen