Lab-Infrastructure

The lab infrastructure at the MARUM features a unique set of state-of-the-art, high-capacity facilities, both for the initial handling and for highly sophisticated analyses of marine sediments.

Our research focuses on biogeochemical processes in aquatic ecosystems and their quantification in experimental studies and modeling. Furthermore, we are interested in the palaeoenvironmental interpretation of geochemical signatures. more...

Core Scanners and loggers are non-destructive analysis systems for relatively fast and closely spaced measurements of sediment cores. They analyze the chemical composition of the surface of split sediment core sections. Alternatively they record an array of physical properties of the drill cores.

• XRF Core Scanner
• Multi Sensor Core Logger
• X-Ray CT Scanner

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometers are used for the identification of soluble organic compounds and enable semi-quantitative determination of concentration. LC-MS systems facilitate the characterization of microbial communities related to biogeochemical processes and are an ideal tool for the determination of high-molecular weight proxy parameters. more...

• Thermo Finnigan LCQ Deca XP Plus Ion Trap MS with Agilent LC
• Agilent 6130 Single Quad MS with LC and fraction collector
• Bruker maXis qToF-MS with Dionex UHPLC and wavelength detector

Gas chromatographs enable the separation of organic molecules, ranging from small gaseous compounds up to compounds containing a much higher number of carbon atoms such as archaeal biomarkers or bacteriohopanepolyols. Moreover, our analytical facilities are capable to determine trace gas concentrations of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon monoxide or dioxide. more...

• Thermo Finnigan Trace GC with FID
• Thermo Scientific Trace GC with valve oven and multiple detectors (FID/TCD/PDD)
• Hewlett-Packard 5890 Series II GC with FID/NPD
• Peak Performer 1 GC with RCP

Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) enables the identification of molecular structures of target compounds. Those two additionally equipped with FIDs offer the simultaneous determination of concentration. The high pressure pyrolysis GC-MS system enables the analysis of volatiles as well as macromolecular materials on the basis of their thermal compositional fingerprints. more...

• Thermo Scientific Trace DSQ II
• Thermo Quest Trace MS with FID
• Agilent GC-MSD (5973)
• Agilent pyrolysis GC-MSD (5975) with FID

Diverse instrument generations and techniques in the field of gas-istope ratio mass spectrometry are available at MARUM. The machines are located in the working areas Marine Geology and Organic Geochemistry. The main focus, therefore, is on scientific questions related to biogeochemistry, paleooceanography, and proxy determinations.

Paleoceanographic Isotope Proxies

The isotope lab of the marine geology group is equipped with a total of 6 mass spectrometers. Three of them are coupled to carbonate preparation devices determing the isotopic composition of carbon and oxygen from foraminiferal tests or bulk carbon from deep sea sediment and corals.
Two mass spectrometers are coupled to element analysers to measure the carbon and nitrogen isotopes of the organic fraction of deep-sea sediment samples.
Another mass spectrometer is used together with a Gasbench to determine carbon isotopes of DIC, and a GC-combustion system (GC-c-system see next chapter "Molecular Isotope Proxies"). more...

• 2 x MAT 251 with carbonate device
• MAT 252 with carbonate device
• DELTA E with element analyser
• DELTA plus with element analyser
• MAT 252 with Gasbench and GC-combustion system

Molecular Isotope Proxies

For investigation of novel molecular-isotopic proxies and their application in paleo-climate research 2 dedicated mass-spectrometers with inlet systems are available in the marine geology group. Determination of isotopic compositions of C, H, N, O, S on compound-specific samples (lipids) and solid as well as liquid samples (e.g., water) is possible. Main research questions include the origin of isotopic signals and their significance as well as applications to reconstruct paleo-vegetation changes and paleo-hydrologic conditions. more...

• ThermoFisher Scientific MAT 253 with Trace GC and GC Isolink as well as TC/EA
• ThermoFisher Scientific MAT 252 with Trace GC and GC/C Interface

Molecular Isotope Biogeochemistry

Molecular isotope techniques in the Hinrichs lab are used to determine the stable isotopic compositions of H, C and N in organic materials. Analyses cover measurements of single organic compounds after chromatographic seperation via GC or LC (gases, biomarkers, lipids, volatile fatty acids) and stable carbon isotopic determinations of bulk sedimentary material and cell biomass. more...

• Thermo Finnigan Delta Plus XP with Trace GC and LC Isolink
• Thermo Scientific Delta V Plus with GC Isolink and Elemental Analyzer

The laboratory for investigating the magnetic properties of rocks and sediments provides scientific data concerning the history of the Earth’s magnetic field. The magnetomineralogic composition, often related to paleoclimatic variations in Earth’s history, is another major issue of our work.

• Automated 2G Superconducting Rock Magnetometer 755 R
• Quantum Design MPMS XL-7
• Princeton measurement Corporation MicroMag Model 2900 AGM
• KappaBridge KLY-2

The mass spectrometry laboratory of the isotope geochemistry group is equipped with a Triton Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) and a Neptun Multicollector ICP-Mass Spectrometer for high precision analyses of non-traditional stable (e.g. Li, B, Ca, Cu...) and radiogenic (e.g. Sr, Nd, Pb...) isotopes. A clean laboratory is available for sample preparation and chemical separation. Isotope systems are used as proxies for a variety of endogenic and exogenic processes in palaeo-oceanic and tectonic research. The reconstruction of (sub)recent or past conditions in climate and environmental research includes the systematic fractionation of stable isotope ratios in inorganic and biogenic marine carbonates that depends on e.g. variation in temperature, in ocean pH and weathering conditions. The signatures of radiogenic isotopes provide information on the continental input into the ocean. This input reflects large scale variations in weathering and rates of denudation that are controlled by orogen building, large igneous events (e.g. flood basalt) or climatic changes like glacial and interglacial intervals.

• ThermoFisher Scientific TRITON Plus Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer
• ThermoFisher Scientific NEPTUNE Plus Multicollector ICP- Mass Spectrometer