Stable Isotope Facility (UGent-SIF)
The Stable Isotope Facility can be contacted, both for service measurements and for scientific collaboration.
UGent-SIF clusters the expertise of two research groups within Ghent University:
- Isotope Bioscience Laboratory (ISOFYS) at the Department of Green Chemistry and Technology of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering.
- Atomic and Mass Spectrometry (A&MS) research unit at the Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences.
Both groups contribute to UGent-SIF and offer a highly complementary and unique analytical capacity for stable isotopic analysis.
The combined diversity of analytical equipment for stable isotopic analysis and the long-standing expertise within both groups is not only unique in Flanders, but is even hard to find at an international level.
Therefore we believe that we can assist you in translating your scientific questions into a dedicated analytical solution!
Instruments
For stable isotopic analysis of ‘light’ elements (2H, 13C, 15N, 18O, 34S )
This infrastructure consists of 5 Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometers (IRMS) and 2 infrared laser spectroscopy systems, that can be applied for different types of analyses (subdivided in 4 categories).
Detailed information can be found via ISOFYS.
1. Bulk stable isotopic analysis in solids and liquids (15N, 13C, 18O and 34S)
- EA-IRMS: 20-22, Sercon
- HT-IRMS: 20-20, SerCon
2. Trace gas stable isotopic analysis - CO2, N2O and CH4 (15N, 13C and 18O)
- TG-IRMS: 20-20, SerCon
3. Compound-specific stable isotopic analysis: 15N, 13C, 2H and 18O
- GC-C/TC-IRMS: Delta V Advantage, Thermo Scientific
- LC-C-IRMS (only 13C): Delta V Advantage, Thermo Scientific
4. Infrared laser spectroscopy
- Isotopic water analyser (2H and18O in H2O): L1102-i, Picarro
- Isotopic CO2 analyser (13C in CO2): G2131-i, Picarro
For stable isotopic analysis of ‘heavy’ elements
The infrastructure consists of 2 multi-collector ICP-MS instruments and a diverse set of peripherals, such as alternative sample introduction systems (e.g., laser ablation, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)and single-collector ICP-MS and ICP-OES instruments. Contamination-free sample preparation is carried out in class-10 clean labs.
Detailed information can be found via A&MS.
Prices
Fixed prices are set for analyses that can be categorized as 'established approaches':
For more complex analyses that require the development of novel analytical protocols (in terms of sample preparation and/or measurements), prices will be the subject of negotiation and will depend on the type of cooperation (joint research project, scientific collaboration or service analysis).
Contact
If you would like to know more about our research and services, please feel free to contact us: