The Analytical Laboratory of the OSL

The task of the OSL analytical laboratory is to support research activities in the field of polar and marine sciences. The laboratory focuses on the analysis of samples that are obtained during Russian-German expeditions. In the past years the analytical facilities of the laboratory have been gradually developed to meet the requirements of present-day science. We focus on selected analytical techniques that are particularly in demand and that meet international standards:

  • Environmental analytics (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), voltammetry, ion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, microwave sample digestion systems)

  • Biogeochemical cycles of carbon and inorganic nutrients (carbon/nitrogen analyzer for solid samples, carbon analyzer for liquid samples analyzer, UV-visible spectrophotometry, segmented continuous-flow analysis of dissolved inorganic nutrients)

  • Determination of basic parameters for biological, geological, and environmental research (sample preparation and homogenization, biological and petrographic microscopy with digital image processing, fluorescence spectroscopy, grain size analysis)

Analytical Equipment

 

 

The following is a list of equipment and facilities that are used to conduct research at the OSL. These facilities are available to all members of the OSL network.

  • Optical Microscopy with Digital Imaging (Olympus BX60, BX50, SZX12, SZX9) for the analysis of geological and biological samples

  • Fluorometer (TD-700 and Trilogy, Turner Designs) for chlorophyll measurement in natural waters

  • UV-VISIBLE Spectrophotometer (SPECORD 200, Analytik Jena) for the quantification of Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in sea- and river

  • Ion Chromatograph (761 Compact IC, Metrohm) for the cation/anion analysis of groundwater

  • Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometr (CIROS VISION ICP-OES, Spectro) for detection of trace metals in biological and geological samples

  • Automated Wet Chemistry Analyzer - Continuous Flow Analyzer (SAN++, Skalar) for measurements of dissolved nutrients (silicate, phosphate, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) in seawater

  • Elemental Carbon and Nitrogen Analyzer (Vario EL III, Elementar) to evaluate the accumulation of carbon and nitrogen in soil

  • Particle Size Analyzer (SediGraph 5100, Micromeritics) for the measurements of the grain-size spectrum of marine sediments

  • Voltammetry (747 VA, Metrohm) for the detection of ultratrace elements in seawater