Instrument description:

Autosampler (Gerstel MPS 2): The autosampler takes a few µL of the fraction in solution in an organic solvent and introduces it into the gas chromatograph injector.

Gas chromatograph (Agilent 6890 N): Molecular biomarkers are separated by molecular weight and polarity in a capillary column under helium flow, as the chromatography oven heats up.

Fraction collector (Gerstel Preparative Fraction Collector): at the end of the capillary column, molecular biomarkers are collected in liquid nitrogen-cooled tubes. 7 fractions can be collected.

The system is used to purify, separate and collect molecular biomarkers (lipids, sugars, amino acids, etc.) extracted from geological and archaeological matrices (soils, sediments, peat, ceramics etc.), and then determine their age by carbon-14 dating. Extracted molecular biomarkers may first be fractionated into chemical families (alkanes, ketones, alcohols, etc.). Depending on the concentration of molecular biomarkers and the quantity of carbon required for dating, the operation may be repeated several dozen times, until sufficient material for ¹⁴C measurement is obtained (at least 10 µgC).

Analyses performed on the instrument:

Purification, separation and collection of molecular biomarkers

Contacts:

Caroline Gauthier : caroline.gauthier[a]lsce.ipsl.fr

Emmanuelle Casanova : emmanuelle.casanova[a]lsce.ipsl.fr

Jérémy Jacob : jeremy.jacob[a]lsce.ipsl.fr

Christine Hatté : christine.hatte[a]lsce.ipsl.fr