Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry

Head of the Laboratory, Dr. Galina M. VOVNA

Tel. +7-(423)-276-09-23

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deputy Head of the Laboratory, Natalya V. ZARUBINA

Tel. +7-(423)-231-87-50

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The main task of the laboratory is study of elemental and isotopic composition of geological specimens utilizing plasma spectrometry methods ICP-AES, ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS.

A contemporary model of an inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometer with triple quadrupole Agilent 8800 tooled up with UP-213 laser ablation system is used for LA-ICP-MS.

This instrumental complex enables carrying out U-Th-Pb zircon geochronological dating with a spatial resolution 40 microns and estimating ages within the range from 10 Ma up to 4.4 Ga.

K/Ar geochronology is implemented using Thermo Finnigan МАТ 253 mass spectrometer coupled to an ultra-high vacuum system of argon laser emission from samples and gas chromatograph Agilent 6890N.

ICP-MS provides measuring concentration of chemical elements in a range from 0.01–1 ppb up to units of ppm in natural objects as well as in artificial and biological matter after their preliminary decomposition and converting into a solution. Spectrometers Agilent 7500c and 7700x are used for quick and accurate determination of element concentrations in the samples with complex composition.

Along with ICP-MS, atomic-emission spectrometry with inductively-coupled plasma is performed by means of Thermo iCAP-7600 DUO. The spectrometer enables most of elements at level 1–10 ppb to be defined.

Laboratory also equipped to determine the ion composition of natural and drinking waters (chromatograph Shimadzu LC-20), total nitrogen and organic carbon in natural waters and solid geological samples (total organic carbon analyzer Shimadzu TOC-V). Analyzer LECO CS-744 serves to measure carbon and sulfur in samples of steel and solid objects containing no organic matter and halogens.