3 ECTS credits
90 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4023293DNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (D) Master - preliminary level.
In this course, the students first obtain insight into the sources of natural variation in the isotopic composition of the elements. Subsequently, they are familiarized with the basic principles of the most important types of mass spectrometers and laser spectrometers deployed for isotope ratio measurement. The capabilities of isotopic analysis are illustrated via real-life applications from various research fields. This course aims at providing the student with a quite profound insight into the techniques that are deployed in the context described above, their application areas and the capabilities and limitations of isotopic analysis
Contents
· The isotopic composition of the elements: natural abundance, isotope fractionation and notation for “light” & “non-traditional” stable isotopes
· Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS)
· Multi-collector ICP – mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS)
· Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS, for 14C-dating & other applications)
· Principles of measurement of light stable isotopes via isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS)
· Compound-specific stable isotope analysis via GC- and HPLC-IRMS
· Laser-based spectroscopy for light element stable isotope analysis
· Isotope ratio applications: geochronological dating, provenance determination, nuclear applications, stable isotopic tracer experiments, applications based on natural isotope fractionation effects, source identification and biodegradation of pollutants, 15N tracing studies for N biogeochemistry, stable isotope probing and use of biomarkers (e.g., erosion and nitrate source apportionment and paleo-climatology), water isotopes for eco-hydrological studies.
Course notes will be provided via UFORA
References
· Inorganic Mass Spectrometry - Fundamentals and Applications, eds: C.M. Barshick, D.C. Duckworth and D.H. Smith, Marcel Dekker, 2000 (ISBN 0824702433)
· ICP Mass Spectrometry Handbook, ed. S.M. Nelms, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2005 (ISBN 1405109165)
· Modern Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, ed. I.T. Platzner, John Wiley & Sons, 1997 (ISBN 0471974161)
· Isotopic analysis - fundamentals and applications using ICP-MS, F. Vanhaecke and P. Degryse, Wiley-VCH, 2012 (ISBN 3527328963)
· Isotopes: Principles and Applications, G. Faure and T. M. Mensing, John Wiley & Sons, 2005, (ISBN 0471384372)
· Stable Isotope Geochemistry, J. Hoefs, Springer, 2009 (ISBN 3540707034)
· Insight into the causes of natural variation in the isotopic composition of the elements.
· Having an overview over dedicated mass spectrometric methods deployed for isotopic analysis, their application areas, capabilities and limitations.
· Understanding and being able to explain the basic operating principles of analytical instrumentation for isotopic analysis.
· Selecting an appropriate mass spectrometric technique for isotopic analysis for an analytical problem in this context.
· Awareness of applications relying on isotopic analysis, including elemental assay via isotope dilution, geochronological dating, provenance determination, isotope ratios as paleo-proxies and biomarkers, environmental studies.
· Adequately interpreting a paper on isotopic analysis from the international literature.
· Solving problems in the context of isotopic analysis via mass spectrometric techniques.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Written examination with open questions
Theory: Written examination. The examination consists of overview questions, more detailed questions on specific course subjects and questions aiming at assessing the student´s understanding of the matter. Exercises are also included in the theoretical exam
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Chemistry: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry