NIWA's state of the art Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) facility supports our research and commercial analyses, providing tailor-made solutions for various environmental and atmospheric questions.
Our purpose-built facility houses high precision Thermo Fisher Scientific (MAT252, MAT253 and Delta V Plus) and Isoprime mass spectrometers, equipped with peripheral devices capable of analysing carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur isotopes in air, water, organic and inorganic samples.
Our stable isotope facility staff specialise in methods developments and novel technological advances. We encourage research collaboration with our colleagues and clients, and aim to work together as a team to facilitate the best project outcomes. We are happy to provide advice and assistance with projects from conception to publication, and recommend contacting the relevant staff listed in the table below to address research and analytical queries.
Research areas
Our analytical facility generates isotope data that supports numerous research areas, which link into the following National Centres within NIWA: Aquaculture; Climate, Atmosphere & Hazards; Coasts and Oceans; Fisheries; Freshwater & Estuaries.
Collaborative research or commercial analyses
We provide competitive rates for commercial analysis of stable isotope samples and are enthusiastic about research collaboration.
Our stable isotope facility staff specialise in methods developments and novel technological advances. We encourage research collaboration with our colleagues and clients, and aimi to work together as a team to facilitate the best project outcomes. We are happy to provide advice and assistance with projects from conception to publication, and recommend contacting the relevant staff listed in the table below to address research and analytical queries.
-
Environmental and Ecological Stable Isotope Analysis
NIWA’s recent multi-million dollar stable isotope facility upgrade has widened our spectrum of isotopic analyses to include a diverse array of water, gas and solid-matrix sample analyses, delivering highly accurate and precise results. -
Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA)
Compound specific stable isotope analysis techniques are an increasingly useful tool to address many ecological and environmental research questions. -
Atmospheric Greenhouse gas studies
Atmospheric greenhouse and trace gases are measured on the MAT252 and MAT253 utilising both dual inlet and continuous flow. While paleo-atmospheres are studied from ice cores on the Isoprime using a continuous flow technique. -
-
Mass Spectrometry techniques and measurements
A wide range of mass spectrometry techniques and measurements are available for air, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, water, carbonates, organics, and other specific isotopes. -
Sample preparation equipment
A range of sample preparation equipment is available, including a New Wave Mercantek Micromill, state of the art freeze dry system, a mini-bead-beater and dedicated sample weighing station. -
-
-
