Lab and field equipment
We have 2 spectrophotometers for routine nutrient analyses, 2 GC for CH4
(Fisions 9000), CO2 and N2O (Trace Thermofinigan) determination, a Varian AA
for metal analyses, a Radiometer titration unit, a Unisense picoamperometer
with oxygen and sulphide microsensors and a Tesa Hite micromanipulator for
sediment profiling.
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Membrane
Inlet Mass Spectrometry - MIMS
Since 2012 thanks to one of our partner Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology of the University of Ferrara, we have the possibility to access the MIMS instrument.
The membrane inlet mass spectrometry allows to measure high precision N2 to Ar ratios. This instrument allows to obtain the very high precision measurements of dissolved nitrogen required in denitrification studies. MIMS has proven quite useful for this because it combines the inherent high precision of mass spectrometers with the speed of a direct dissolved gas sampler. The net result is that it is possible to obtain measurement precision of ≤ 0.03% on N2/Ar ratios in a measurement cycle that takes less than 2 minutes. At this level of precision, it is possible to measure the natural flux of the end product of denitrification, nitrogen gas, and it is this feature that has made MIMS a desirable technique for marine and aquatic denitrification studies.
Original instrument description and current operational methods may be found at: www.hpl.umces.edu/~kana
Since 2012 thanks to one of our partner Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology of the University of Ferrara, we have the possibility to access the MIMS instrument.
The membrane inlet mass spectrometry allows to measure high precision N2 to Ar ratios. This instrument allows to obtain the very high precision measurements of dissolved nitrogen required in denitrification studies. MIMS has proven quite useful for this because it combines the inherent high precision of mass spectrometers with the speed of a direct dissolved gas sampler. The net result is that it is possible to obtain measurement precision of ≤ 0.03% on N2/Ar ratios in a measurement cycle that takes less than 2 minutes. At this level of precision, it is possible to measure the natural flux of the end product of denitrification, nitrogen gas, and it is this feature that has made MIMS a desirable technique for marine and aquatic denitrification studies.
Original instrument description and current operational methods may be found at: www.hpl.umces.edu/~kana
SWIMP, Sediment
Water Interface Microprofiler
Some years ago we were involved in the development of a microprofiler by a private company; we tested it at many sites. This picture is from the Arcachon Bay, on the Atlantic coast of France, near Bordeaux. It's a macrotidal lagoon, with Zostera nolti growing on most of the surface. Here we did a series of microprofiles (pH, O2, S-2, Eh) during a tidal cicle.
In other sites (Valli di Comacchio) we demonstrated how sulphides diffuse in the night within the rhyzosphere of Ruppia cirrosa and sometimes to the water column and thow hey are then reoxidized during the day.
Some years ago we were involved in the development of a microprofiler by a private company; we tested it at many sites. This picture is from the Arcachon Bay, on the Atlantic coast of France, near Bordeaux. It's a macrotidal lagoon, with Zostera nolti growing on most of the surface. Here we did a series of microprofiles (pH, O2, S-2, Eh) during a tidal cicle.
In other sites (Valli di Comacchio) we demonstrated how sulphides diffuse in the night within the rhyzosphere of Ruppia cirrosa and sometimes to the water column and thow hey are then reoxidized during the day.