In 1997 the instrument centre CONFIRM was established at RISØ via external support from the Research Councils. The main objective of CONFIRM is to improve the possibilities for Danish environmental, ecological and agricultural scientists to use continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry.
Instrumentation in brief: Finnigan MAT DeltaPLUS Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) with a triple Faraday cup collector suitable for N2, CO2, O2 and SO2. The instrument is fully automated and is equipped with a differential pumping system to handle high carrier gas flow rates.
The IRMS is interfaced to three different analytical applications:
ConFlo II interface for the coupling of an elemental analyzer. This configuration provides a basis for simultaneously analysis of 15N/14N and 13C/12C ratios in solid samples of e.g. soil and biological tissue from plants and animals. The system also allows analysis of sulphur in solids.
Gas Chromatograph combustion interface (GC/C III). This preparation system allows analysis of 15N/14N and 13C/12C ratios in e.g. specific biological samples (amino acids; fatty acids) separated on a GC column.
A trace gas preparation and concentration unit (PreCon) makes possible the isotopic characterization of N2O and CH4. Natural isotopic abundances in both N2O (15N/14N and 18O/16O simultaneously) and CH4 (13C/12C) can be measured at ambient concentrations in 100 ml of air.
Role: Coordinator of activities within CONFIRM and responsible for instrument performance and maintenance. Implementation of new methods and improvement of existing.
Analysis are provided for other research groups national as well as international.
Recently a number of joint-research projects have taken advantage of the analytical capabilities associated with CONFIRM, e.g.
Dinog – Dinitrogen Fixation and Nitrous Oxide Losses in grass-clover Pastures. Analysis of 15N in gas sample N2O and N2 and 15N in soil and plant material.
Intercrop - Intercropping of cereals and grain legumes for increased production, weed control, improved product quality and prevention of N-losses in European organic farming systems. Analysis of 15N in plant material
Green Fuel Cells – Fuel cell fuelled by gasification gas. Analysis of 13C in carbon-material. |