Our main analytical facility is the WashU Noble Gas Laboratory. To see photos of how the lab was built, click here. Noble gases are unique geochemical tracers, in that they do not participate in reaction chemistry. Rather, noble gas isotopic compositions are primarily affected by radioactive decay of assorted parent isotopes on a variety of timescales.
The Nu Noblesse HR 5F5M and custom-designed and built gas extraction and purification line
High-temperature isotope geochemistry studies have long focused on radiogenic isotope systems, such as U-Pb, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and Hf-W. We expand the radiogenic isotope toolbox to include constraints from noble gas isotope systematics. Using state-of-the-art multicollector mass spectrometry, high-precision measurements may shed new light on topics such as the state of the early Earth, and chemical exchange between deep Earth and surface reservoirs.
Our new gas extraction/purification line provides samples gas to the Nu Noblesse HR 5F5M noble gas mass spectrometer. The laboratory is fully automated using the National Instruments cRIO platform to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Nu Noblesse HR 5F5M multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometer at the Nu Instruments Factory in Wrexham, Wales in 2017Standard tank section of an early version of the gas preparation lineA highly compact design minimizes internal volumes in the gas preparation lineThe gas prep line under vacuum and processing air standardsA compact configuration of valves with pneumatic actuators allows for low system blanks and automated control of the gas preparation lineCollectors on the Noblesse 5F5M with the gas prep line in background
Sample Preparation and Wet Chemistry
Our sample prep and wet chemistry labs are used to process, clean, and separate rock or mineral samples for geochemical analysis. Rock preparation equipment includes a mini jaw crusher, a disk mill, and a sieve shaker.
Sepor Mini Jaw Crusher
Retsch AS200 Sieve Shaker
A new stereo microscope with built-in camera for hand-picking of mineral separates.
Leica Stereozoom S9i Microscope
Mettler-Toledo XSE105 Dual Range Analytical Balance
Thermo Scientific ST16 Centrifuge
VWR Gravity Convection Oven
Building the Noble Gas Lab
Constructing the gas extraction and purification line from scratch took a lot of effort! Here are snapshots of how it came together.
Let’s build some stuffIt didn’t start out looking like a meaningful support structure, but stick to the design…Building out our unconventional “table”Slight misalignments add up, so we had to get inside the structure and get everything aligned just rightAdding machined custom table-topsGotta make sure the tabletops are levelLaying out the central line of valves on their support standsCompact geometry demands tiny little wrenchesMonths of careful calculation to get this geometry to work outI saved the best/hardest for last…the last component we added was the quadrupole residual gas analyzer, installed with very poor line of sight to the flangeIt might not seem like much of a photo, but this felt momentous — finally connecting the gas line to the mass spectrometer in Nov 2019Gas line with one standank to start off, as we prepared our main gas standardsIon pump so shiny you can see yourself in it. Preparing the space under the table for standard tanksTwo standard tanks, ready for installationJulian and Nhia with the standard tank assemblyStandard tank assembly, installedSam and Xinmu working on the crusher table valve assemblyJulian and Nhia starting the crusher table valve assemblyThe crusher table valve assembly, inverted and ready to mountThe crusher table valve assembly, mounted!Hooking up the turbo pumps and pumpout manifold underneath the crusher table. Love it when the design works out in real lifeGas line with standard assembly and four-port crusher tableJulian with the crusher table, gas purification and mass specAny now for everyone’s favorite: cable managementThere are a lot of instrument input/output considerationsAnd we imposed order on the cable traysAttempts to make cable trays orderlyScroll pump tip seal maintenance
