Sorry, this page is not available in English.
Page path:
- Paleobiogeochemistry
- Laboratory
Geobiology Laboratory
On ca. 150 square meters we have established state-of-the-art geobiology facilities. Spaced over three labs, we are equipped to work-up biomass and rock samples for trace organic geochemical, palynological/microfossil and carbon isotope chemostratigraphic analyses.
Follow this link for more information on our labs and facilities.
Follow this link for more information on our labs and facilities.
Analytical instrumentation
The instrument laboratory is furnished with two GC-MS couplets and an LC system. High heat capacity climate regulation and and in-room clean gas supply ensure highest quality standards, allowing us to analyze trace abundances of biomarker hydrocarbons.
Wet-chemistry Laboratory
Fed with HEPA-filtered air and overpressured to minimize airborne contamination. Here the majority of preparative work is done: solvent extraction and concentration, column- and thin-layer chromatography, molecular sieving. A dedicated fume hood allows work with strong mineralic acids including HF.
- CEM Mars-6 automated microwave extraction
- Soxhlet-station (6 positions)
- Büchi Syncore (6x 250 mL) evaporator (two units)
- Distillation column
- Solvent (3x) and acid (1x) fume hoods
- Allegra X12-R XL-centrifuge (self-balancing)
- Building-wide cooling water circuit (8ºC)
- Multiple ultrasound baths
- Two fridges, one freezer (-20ºC)
Rock & Sedimentary Laboratory
A dedicated space used for preparative (sawing, drilling, powdering) and aqueous work, as well as for cleaning of equipment. A separate 'reserved' fume hood allows the workup of rich extracts, 'dirty' samples and oils.
- Lortone all-stainless-steel rock saw
- Siebtechnik shatterbox with custom-steel puck and mill
- Reverse-osmosis DI water
- TKA GenPure-UV organic clean (1-5 ppb, Type-1) water
- XL combustion furnce
- Microablation stations (six positions)
- Dedicated fume hood for rich samples and oils
- Setup for catalytic hydrogenation
- Industrial dish washer
- Drying ovens
Microscopy / Palynology
Our biomarker work is increasingly complemented by microfossil analyses. The pairing of these two disciplines offers the most promising approach to reconstructing early life on Earth and is part of our holistic approach to evolutionary geobiology.
Marine aquarium
Our work on lipid biosynthesis in live modern organisms (basal metazoa and a variety of protists) is supported by a salt water reef tank kept at 24ºC under normal marine conditions.