Analytical Services provided by ASIF
We can provide analysis on a variety of samples, some of which have included:
- muscle
- feathers
- blood
- bone collagen
- whale baleen
- algae & zooplankton
- soil & sediment
- whiskers & claws
- DOC and DON
- Water
- vegetation
- and practically anything else that was once living
Credit: Mariam Grimes
– Matthew Wooller, director of the Alaska Stable Isotope Facility, uses a spatula to load a sample of benzoic acid into a sample capsule on Friday, May 4, 2007. The facility used benzoic acid as a calibration standard for its instruments.
The amount of material needed to perform the analysis is dependent upon the concentration of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen or oxygen in the sample. Quantities range from approximately 0.2 mg for protein material to upwards of 0.1 mg for sediments of extremely low carbon and nitrogen content. Most materials should be dried and ground into a fine powder. In cases where filters are used for sampling, the smallest sized, pre-combusted glass fiber filter is preferable, e.g. 25 mm. Filters should be left whole, not folded, and placed into a petri dish which has been clearly labeled on both the top and the bottom. Protein samples may be pre-weighed prior to shipping.
Contact us for information regarding weighing and preparing samples as well as current price information.
credit: Erica Franich
ASIF Research Professional Tim Howe changes the ash insert on the Costech Elemental Analyzer (EA), used for the paralysis of water and organic samples for the analysis of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes.
Some things to keep in mind after you’ve decided to send your samples to the Alaska Stable Isotope Facility include:
- Most samples should be dried and ground, excluding filters and extremely small samples such as zooplankton and insects.
- Package your samples carefully and securely so vials do not shift during shipping.
- Make sure that all vials adn petri dishes are clearly labeled both on the lid and the vial/dish.
- Include samples identification sheets; shorter IDs are preferable.
- Please advise us of any further processing that needs to ocur such as acidification.
- Indicate preferred deadlines as well as sample priorities.
- If you will be using a PO for payment, please provide it at the time the samples are sent.
The address to ship sampes to is:
Norma Haubenstock
University of Alaksa Fairbanks
INE/WERC
Duckering Building Rm 525
306 Tanana Dr.
Fairbanks, AK 99775
For further questions please call Norma Haubenstock at (907)474-5675 or e-mail to nhaubenstock@alaska.edu.
