New MC-ICP-MS up and running

The new Multicollector - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) “Nu Plasma II” was delivered and installed in the IBG 3 institute. It will enable us to determine isotope ratios with high precision for a wide range of elements. This new device plays a central role in the BMBF-project Soil, where it will be used to determine the pristine isotope ratios of plant nutrients in soil (mainly Fe, Mg and B) in order to track plant nutrient uptake from the subsoil. Along with the installation of the MC-ICP-MS, the necessary preceeding wet chemical sample preparation and cleanup procedures will take place in the adjoining clean lab. Because of the somewhat long and clumsy acronym, the device is called Jamie by the involved researchers.