UCL Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Facility (BEIF)
The Bloomsbury Environmental Isotope Facility (BEIF) is a central UCL facility jointly founded in 2002 by Chemistry, Geography and Earth Sciences (SRIF 1, 2, 3 funding, £676k) within Chemistry's Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (headed by Prof. T. Atkinson). It is equipped to measure stable isotopes in water, soils, rocks and sediments (three Thermo-Finnigan isotope ratio mass spectrometers, below) and environmentally occurring radio-isotopes (three Ametek gamma spectrometers for 210Pb dating, Octete alpha spectrometer for uranium-series dating and TriCarb2900LR scintillation counter for environmental radioactivity). BEIF supports research on water resources, climate change and aquatic ecosystem change.
Instruments
| Thermo Finnigan MAT253 | The Thermo Finnigan MAT 253 (purchased in 2004) delivers high sensitivity and precision for determining isotope ratios. Seen as the top-of-the line isotope spectrometer the instrument measures isotope ratios of: H/D, 13C/12C, 15N/14N, 18O/16O, 34S/32S. It can also determine isotope ratios of 28Si/29Si, Ar, Kr and Xe. |
| Thermo Finnigan Delta V Advantage | Installed in 2005, the Thermo Finnigan Delta V Advantage is the newer version of the Delta plus XP (see below). Operational in Dual Inlet and Continuous Flow modes and with, or without Helium supply. |
| Thermo Finnigan Delta Plus XP | The Thermo Finnigan Delta Plus XP is equipped with an Elemental Analyzer for determining isotope ratios of Nitrogen and Carbon in solid samples. |
Service
We also provide a Mass Spectrometry Service for the Chemistry Department, other UCL Departments and External Organizations.
