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How to Prepare Water Samples for Inorganic Carbon AnalysisPlease keep the samples refrigerated . If the samples are refrigerated and analysed rapidly (holding time can be many months).Vial Preparation:Optional: Add about 5-10 mg of blue copper sulfate solid to the vials prior to sample collection. The copper sulfate acts as a hindrance to microbial activity to preserve the dissolved CO2 in the sample. TraceClean EPA vials. Precleaned, 40 ml, amber borosilicate, 0.125" with silicone-teflon septa. (Quality Assurance is not necessary)PLEASE ORDER EARLY; there is often a couple of months backorder. Septa for 13CDIC (2 options):Please note: The silicone-teflon septa provided with the EPA vials are permeable, in particular the inorganic carbon; therefore, for storage of more than a day or two, use an additional septum underneath the silicone-teflon septum, rubber or butyl side facing the water in the vial: Syringe and FilterLow protein binding filter for aqueous samples. Units include two prefilters [graded density Multigrade GMF 150 (10:1µm) and Grade GF/F (0.7µm)] that allow filtration of even the most difficult samples with minimal hand force. Choose the 13mm (0.51") size for samples up to 10mL or the 25mm (0.98") size for samples greater than 10mL. Collecting the DIC samples:1) pull sample water into a 40 mL syringe and empty 2-3 times to rinse syringe with fresh sample.2) SLOWLY pull sample for collection into the syringe (try to avoid entraining excess sediment and air bubbles) 3) remove bubbles/headspace from syringe by tilting syringe upwards and expelling excess air 4) attach syringe filter 5) flush filter with approximately 10 mL (to rinse filter). 6) SLOWLY push sample water into the vial. Vials need to be COMPLETELY FULL with a positive (convex upward) miniscus forms over the vial opening. 7) screw the cap on firmly (some spillage will occur) until the septa slightly pops up into the cap opening, but dont overtighten cap. If the septa is off-center, the vial may leak and the sample will be compromised. 8) keep the vials chilled until analysis. DO NOT FREEZE VIALS! Freezing will cause the water to expand and crack the vials! |
 NEWS & EVENTSDiversity of great white shark diet was shown to be greater than previously thought based on research by UC Santa Cruz colleagues Sora Kim, Paul Koch, and James Estes along with co-autor M. Tim Tinker of the U.S. Geological Survey. This work was highlighted in the Los Angeles Times. SIL Co-Director Paul Koch has been named Dean of the UC Santa Cruz Division of Physical and Biological Sciences. Madagascar Lemur extinctions and ecological retreat followed arrival of humans according to UCSC Graduate Student Brooke Crowley, Professor Paul Koch and co-authors. Their findings were recenlty published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. SIL Co-Director Paul Koch was quoted in the New York Times on research showing that a tiny Paleocene horse Sifrhippus, the first horse, grew even smaller during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum climatic warming event. SIL Co-Director Christina Ravelo has been selected as an American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fellow. SIL Co-Directors Paul Koch and Jim Zachos's research on Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) climatic warming event is featured in an National Geographic article "Earth Before the Ice" in the October 2011 issue. SIL Co-Director Paul Koch has been appointed Interim Dean of the UC Santa Cruz Division of Physical and Biological Sciences. SIL Co-Director Jim Zachos elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. UCSC's SIL new ThermoScientific MAT 253 isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled to a Kiel Automated Carbonate Device begins regular operations. UCSC's SIL retires its 15 year-old dual-inlet Optima following a very productive career. The instrument generated over 40,000 data points. Two Tsavo Lions In Famed Killings Get Partial Reprieve according to UCSC Graduate Student Justin Yeakel. Listen to Justin's inteview on National Public Radio's All Things Considered: SIL co-director Christina Ravelo (Ocean Sciences) sails as co-chief scientist on Integrated Ocean Drilling Project (IODP) Expedition 323 to investigate Bearing Sea Paleoceanography.
SIL co-director Christina Ravelo (Ocean Sciences) gives the 2008 Emiliani Lecture at the American Geophysical Union Meeting in San Francisco on "Lessons from the Pliocene Warm Period and the Onset of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation".
UCSC SIL has been funded by the National Science Foundation for a new Dual-Inlet Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer with individual acid drip system for very small calcium carbonate samples. SIL co-director Jim Zachos (Earth and Planetary Sciences) recieves prestigious Humbolt Research Award. See Humbolt Award for details. SIL Co-Director Jim Zachos has been selected as an American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fellow. In recognition of the new continuous flow instruments added to the UCSC stable isotope facility a Symposium is being run to highlight the new analytical capabilities. |
