Gas Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS)

About the facility

The IRMS Facility at Umeå University specialises in the precise analysis of gases and their stable isotopologues (molecules differing only in isotopic composition). Our Thermo Scientific DELTA V Plus instrument is connected to custom membrane-inlet chambers, enabling time-resolved monitoring of gases in gaseous, liquid, and solid samples. This technique is known as time-resolved membrane-inlet mass spectrometry (TR-MIMS) and allows real-time detection of gases such as He, H₂, CO₂, N₂, N₂O, O₂, Ar, etc, along with their isotopologues.

Services provided at the IRMS Facility

• Guidance on optimal sample preparation methods to ensure compatibility with IRMS analysis
• Technical support in designing and assembling customised sample inlet systems tailored to the physical and chemical properties of your samples
• After completing personal training, users involved in long-term projects may gain supervised or independent access to the IRMS instruments
• Online detection of gases such as H₂, N₂, O₂, CO₂, and their isotopologues
• High-resolution tracking of dynamic changes in complex gas mixtures (e.g., O₂ + CO₂ + Ar) during chemical or biological processes
• Data analysis support (assistance with processing, interpreting, and visualising data, including baseline correction, peak integration, and isotope ratio calculations.)
• Specialised setups for various applications in Plant Sciences (e.g., photosynthesis and respiration studies)

More information, access and booking

The IRMS Facility is open to all researchers and collaborators. For access, training, and application procedures, please visit the facility website http://irms.chem.umu.se/ or contact the team directly.