The Langmuir group occupies 3,000 square feet of newly refurbished lab space where sample preparation and digestion are performed for trace element and isotope analyses. The space also houses a Thermo Electron X-Series ICP-MS, New Wave 213nm UV Laser, and Beckman SMI III DCP Spectrometer.
To prepare rocks as aqueous solutions, samples are digested using a closed system Teflon vessel PicoTrace Disollution Unit capable of digesting batches of 16 to 32 samples simultaneously (to temperatures of 180°C and 20 bars). The acids used for digestion are double-distilled using the PicoTrace or Savillex acid distillation system, and acid dilutions are made with 18.2 MΩ deionized water delivered by an ultra pure water polishing system.
Rock Preparation Lab
Low blank levels are critical for the measurements of ultra-trace concentrations and isotopic composition. To maintain the blanks at the lowest levels possible, the standard and sample preparations are accomplished in a positively pressured Class 100 clean lab with HEPA filtered air. The clean labs are metal-free labs with better than class 10 laminar-flow work spaces for chemical separations and low blank trace element and isotope analysis.
Facilities Available in Other EPS Groups
In addition, Langmuir Group researchers have access to:
Isotope Research Geo- and Cosmochemistry Facilities from the Jacobsen Group,
Noble Gas Lab Facilities from the Mukhopadhyay Group
NU Instruments Noble Gas Multi-Collector MS
And Center for the Environment from Schrag Group.
Please note that access to all labs is restricted to authorized personel only. Please contact Lab Manager, Dr. Zhongxing Chen at 617-384-9809 for questions regarding lab access.