Stable Isotope Laboratory

The Stable Isotope Laboratory (SIL) at FIU is a full-service stable isotope facility capable of analyzing stable isotopes of C, N, O, and H in both inorganic and organic solids (soils, tissues) as well as water samples. The SIL provides quality isotopic analyses for both the FIU research community and the South Florida community at large, helping researchers and students use stable isotopic approaches in a variety of biogeochemical projects being conducted in the southeastern US, the Caribbean region and beyond.

The SIL began in the 80’s with one mass spectrometer, a Micromass Prism. Since then, the laboratory has expanded with the addition of two different IRMS systems. Our lab specializes in continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) using EA, TC/EA and GC systems. Presently, the laboratory measures C, N, and O isotopes in a variety of organic and inorganic materials, and will begin doing sulfur analyses in the near future.