The following instrumentation is housed within the Feakins Lab at USC

Freeze-drying sediments

   We use a Virtis 2k freeze drier, including secondary cold trap (organic clean).

Solvent Extraction

   We use Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) by Dionex Corporation, which completes solvent extraction and filtration under high temperature (100°C) and pressure (1500psi).

GC-MS – Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

   We use an Agilent 6890 GC equipped with a Rxi®-5ms (30m x 0.25mm, film thickness 0.25mm); and a 7683 programmable injector connected to an Agilent 5973 MSD mass spectrometer.  The Agilent GC-MS provides mass spectral information for biomarker identification and quantification.

GC-IRMS – Gas Chromatography Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

   

We use a Thermo Scientific Trace GC equipped with a Rxi®-5ms (30m x 0.25mm, film thickness 1mm); and a TriPlus programmable injector connected via GC Isolink with parallel combustion furnace (at 1030 °C) and pyrolysis furnace (at 1430 °C) together with a Conflo IV to a Delta V Plus mass spectrometer. Combustion is used for the analysis of 13C/12C and pyrolysis is used for the analysis of D/H.

EA-IRMS – Elemental Analyzer & Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

We use a Costech EA in standalone mode or coupled via a Conflo IV to a Delta V Plus mass spectrometer for TC, TOC, TIC, TN, C/N, d13C TC, d13C TOC, d13C TIC. We may add d15N capability.