The Isotope Hydro-Biogeochemistry Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is equipped with a range of isotope facilities and associated peripheral instruments for isotopic analyses of water, nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide.
Continuous Flow-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
A Elementar precisION Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer with a multi-collector array for simultaneous determination of N2O isotopologues (m/z 44, 45, 46) and isopotomers (m/z 30 and 31). This IRMS is equipped with high throughput continuous flow, an adjustable height autosampler, and a trace gas system (isoFLOW, Elementar, UK) for cryogenic trapping of low concentration N2O required for nitrate isotope analysis using the denitrifier method.
Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer for Water Isotope Analysis
A Picarro L2130-i CRDS for determining water isotopes in various sample matrix. To measure freshwater samples (e.g., precipitation, river water, tile drainage), the CRDS is coupled with a high-precision vaporizer (Picarro A0211) and an autosampler (Picarro A0325) for automated measurements. To measure soil- and plant-bounded water using the direct vapor equilibrium method, the CRDS is configured to measure water vapor in continuous mode and is coupled with a Micro-Combustion Module (MCM; Picarro A0214) to minimize spectral interferences due to volatile organic compounds.
Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer for Nitrous oxide Isotopologue and Isotopomer analyses
A Picarro L5131-i CRDS for continuous N2O isotopologue and isotopomer analyses. This analyzer is currently being deployed at the UMN Tall Tower Trace Gas Observatory for high-frequency boundary layer measurements.
