Thermo DELTA V Advantage IRMS

Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) instruments are designed to measure accurately small differences in the abundance of stable isotopes such as ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N. The Delta V EA-IRMS is a continuous flow instrument which employs an elemental analyser.

During analysis, samples undergo combustion in an oxygen atmosphere and are converted into simple gases (such as CO₂ and N₂). The evolved gases are ionised and separated before being detected by the mass spectrometer. Measurement of the ratio of the ions corresponding to each gas produced can provide information about the biological, chemical or physical processes the material has undergone.

The Delta V EA-IRMS is used at UNSW for a wide range of applications such as predation, foodwebs, migration patterns and ecosystem management.