UCL Bloomsbury Environmental Isotope Facility

In order to run samples as an external BEIF user, you must set up an account. Download and complete the UCL New Client Information spreadsheet and email it to the address noted on the form. Please also download the Purchase Order Generator which will produce the Purchase Order you need to send to us before analyses can be undertaken. Print the Purchase Order form and fax or scan and email it to Anne-Lise Jourdan.

You can find here methods on how to prepare the samples for packaging and shipping.  ALL samples should arrive in run order in racks, already sorted.

• Requirements and shipping address information

You need to also tell us exactly how you want the samples analyzed. For instance, if you placed 7 specimens in a well of the micropaleo slide, do you want us to run all 7 as one analysis, or 7 individual analyses?  We do not wish to make assumptions about your data. 
We prefer to receive carbonate powder or otoliths in glass vials - NOT plastic - which has static problems. The reason we are so specific about the kind of shipping containers we receive is because we want to analyze all the carbonate you send to us. Static is the enemy! 

• All Gas Bench users need to fill out the mass-spec data entry spreadsheet and email it to your BEIF contact. 
• For help in filling out this spreadsheet, refer to these guidelines [MSword format].

The Gas Bench reaction vials are quite large compared to the quantity of carbonate we typically analyze. The trick is to get all of the carbonate to the bottom of the reaction vessel. We rinse the vials with methanol and then place in an oven to evaporate the liquid before capping. 

Image showing vial & capsule vessel guidelines

We can send you vials for loading, if required. For elemental analysis of material on the FlashEA, we use tin capsules and for the TC/EA we use silver capsules. These capsules must be rolled tightly to remove all trapped atmosphere.

We do not roast or pretreat our samples before analysis. It is up to you to do so, if you believe it necessary. However, we do wash our sediment samples in 3% hydrogen peroxide and sodium hexametaphosphate to remove organic material. We did an experiment with rose bengal stained live benthic forams with no treatment and with a 2 minute sonication in 3% hydrogen peroxide. The stained live forams contained significant protoplasm before the treatment and none after. Our philosophy is to do as little as necessary to the samples in preparation for analysis.

Please refer to the Machine Method Files for information applicable to the peripheral used to analyze your material.

As of March 2013, the sample queue is approximately three weeks long. Therefore, analysis of outside samples submitted now will be completed approximately three weeks from the arrival of the sample at BEIF.

BEIF Per Sample Analysis Rate

We have a three-tiered fee structure as follows:

1. We charge internal UCL & collaborators the lower fee indicated.
2. External UK users pay the lower fee plus the 20% mandatory VAT.
3. We charge users outside of the UK the higher fee in parenthesis.

Gas Bench II - £10 (£12) per analysis (includes d18O & d13C as one charge)
FlashEA - £7 (£8.50) per analysis 
TC/EA - £7 (£8.50) per analysis 
TRACE GC Ultra - to be determined

MICRODRILL - Free to BEIF machine users; £22 per hour for others; plus broken drill bits
MICROBALANCE - Free to BEIF machine users; £22 per hour for others
DIAMOND WIRE SAW - Free to BEIF machine users; £22 per hour for others; plus replacement parts as required

ZEISS Stereomicroscope - Free to BEIF machine users; £22 per hour for other