Analytical platform for environmental research

The platform is coordinated by par Marjolaine Deschamps (Research engineer – EcoSys_Sol).

The platform consists of three parts:

1. “radio-labelled analysis platform” – coordinated by Valérie Berghaud (EcoSys)
2. “stable isotope analysis platform” – co-coordinated by Cyril Girardin (EcoSys)
3. “liquid chromatography –mass spectrometry platform” – co-coordinated by Marjolaine Deschamps and Nathalie Bernet (EcoSys) 

Radio-labelled analysis platform

It is installed in a 200 m² laboratory area. Experimental devices are proposed. The analytical instruments are dedicated to the analysis of organic molecules radio-labelled with ¹⁴C (scintillation counter, solid combustion apparatus, HPLC with DAD and continuous flow scintillation detector). Complete mass balances of organic pollutants are established due to a quantification of the radio-labelled compounds in compartments that are non-accessible by other analytical methods (non-extractable residues, mineralised organic pollutants). This platform gives an opportunity to establish collaborations in order to create research projects concerning the fate of the organic pollutants in complex matrices (soil, organic residues, and plants). 

Stable isotope analysis platform 

It is installed in a 200 m² laboratory area. It consists of 8 isotopic mass spectrometers that allow the analysis of various stable isotopes (²H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O), either in their natural abundance or with labelled compounds. Mass spectrometers are coupled with sample preparation apparatus (elementary analyser, GC with or without combustion, pyrolyzer, CO₂-H₂O equilibrators, H₂-H₂O equilibrators). The objective is to study the biogeochemical cycles of elements such as carbon, nitrogen and water.

Liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry platform 

It consists of an ultra high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with an online SPE device and coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer (triple quadruple). It allows sensitive and selective analysis of organic molecules, such as organic pollutants that are at trace levels in environmental matrices (eg. Pesticides, pharmaceutical compounds, surfactants… in soil, soil leachates, organic residues…). It is mainly used by EcoSys Soil and Ecotoxicology teams, in the frame of national or European research projects concerning environmental organic pollutants.