This grant provides partial support for a full time lab manager/technician for the Stable Isotopic Research Facility (SIRF) at Indiana University. Duties of the research technician include: 1) training of all users of laboratory facilities, 2) maintenance of mass spectrometers and associated gas preparation systems, 3) development of new analytical techniques, and 4) analyses of non-routine samples, especially those produced by laser ablation methods. This laboratory has expanded, and now houses four stable isotope ratio mass spectrometers with a variety of associated on-line sample preparation devices. These include a laser fluorination system, high-temperature combustion furnaces and related gas chromatographic systems for carbon and hydrogen isotopic analyses, elemental analyzers for sulfur, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen analyses, water-CO2 equilibration and water to hydrogen conversion devises, and an automated carbonate-CO2 preparation system. In addition to on-line peripheral systems, the labs contain several traditional vacuum extraction systems. These include a CO2 laser fluorination system, a conventional BrF5 extraction line, a fluorination system for the preparation of SF6 SO2 lines for the preparation of large standard samples for both EA and dual inlet analyses, high-and low-temperature sequential carbon extraction lines, a system for the extraction of inclusion fluids and gases, and chromatographic systems for the isolation of various sulfur species. The research technician will be involved in the development of new analytical methods, and the training of undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students. The activities of the research technician are closely tied to the enhancement of graduate research initiatives.
