Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The Manitoba Isotope Research Facility (MIRF) was established in 2015 at the University of Manitoba (UM). The Department of Earth Sciences and several other UM, regional, national, and international researchers and their HQP greatly benefit from the MIRF. This facility is central to Silva, Kuzyk, and Fayek's research projects and collaborations. The requested carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulphur (S) elemental analyzer (CNS-EA) will be used to replace the current non-functional system, thus providing urgently needed capabilities that will address a glaring analytical gap at a province level. Without a CNS-EA, Silva, Kuzyk, and Fayek's ability to perform cutting-edge research and train HQPs is severely diminished. The current 15-year-old system no longer has an operating C combustion cell and autosampler. The supplier, Romquest Technologies, no longer supports this system, and third-party parts are unavailable. This shuts down a major sample characterization capability at UM and Manitoba. Additionally, the MIRF houses two isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) with several peripheral combustion devices to convert solids and liquids to gases for analysis (the Stable Isotope Lab, SIL). The stand-alone CNS-EA will be used to, efficiently and economically, (1) determine the C, N, and S content of samples that will be analyzed for their isotopic compositions by the IRMS (this step is necessary to ensure that a sufficient sample is loaded so that the amount of S or C is within the linear range of the IRMS); (2) measure total inorganic C (TIC) and organic C (TOC) of sediment cores from arctic ocean basins and sedimentary rocks from several geological intervals to better understand the impacts of climate change on C cycling in modern and past oceans; (3) measure total C, N, S, TIC and TOC in soils to study organic matter-mineral interactions and their impact on the C cycle in soils; (4) measure TIC, TOC, and total S in all kinds of solids coupled with traditional (H, C, O, S) isotopic and non-traditional (e.g., Li, B, Fe) isotopic data to develop exploration models for critical metal deposits. With the new CNS-EA, the MIRF will regain the capacity to analyze TIC and TOC as well as analyze samples automatically; thus, increasing sample throughput capacity, saving time, and decreasing the cost of stable isotope analysis (e.g., repeat of samples where C or S concentrations were outside the linear range of the IRMS).  The Canadian government is prioritizing the issue of climate change and nature conservation, with a specific focus on coastal and oceanic areas. We need a functional CNS-EA system in Manitoba to sustain and enhance research into C dynamics and the potential role of ecosystem conservation and restoration as natural climate solutions. Failure to obtain the CNS-EA promptly will result in missed research opportunities for many HQPs and researchers across four units of the UM and hamper national and international collaborative efforts.