6 ECTS credits
150 u studietijd

Aanbieding 1 met studiegidsnummer 4024123FNR voor alle studenten in het 1e semester met een gespecialiseerd master niveau.

Semester
1e semester
Inschrijving onder examencontract
Niet mogelijk
Beoordelingsvoet
Beoordeling (0 tot 20)
2e zittijd mogelijk
Ja
Onderwijstaal
Engels
Onder samenwerkingsakkoord
Onder interuniversitair akkoord mbt. opleiding
Faculteit
Faculteit Wetenschappen en Bio-ingenieurswetensch.
Verantwoordelijke vakgroep
Chemie
Onderwijsteam
Marc Elskens
Steven Goderis (titularis)
Onderdelen en contacturen
30 contacturen Hoorcollege
30 contacturen Werkcolleges, practica en oefeningen
40 contacturen Zelfstudie en externe werkvormen
Inhoud
  • Introductory concepts: natural stable isotope systems (D/H, C, N, O, S, Si), abundances, ratios, delta-notation, fractionation mechanisms (physical and chemical, in equilibrium and kinetic), fractionation factors (alpha) and their temperature dependence, analytical methods, standards, and relations between delta, alpha, and T.
  • Fundamental knowledge about stable isotopes: H, C, N, O, S, Si isotopic signatures as tracers of biogeochemical processes in natural systems; D/H, 13C/12C, 15N/14N, 16O/18O, 30Si/28Si, and 34S/32S fractionation during biological processes; e.g. carbon fixation; nutrient uptake; trophic interactions.
  • Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in the hydrosphere: processes and applications. Introduction to the use of stable isotope ratios as tracers.
  • The carbon cycle and anthropogenic impact; changing carbon reservoirs and 13C/12C fractionation to track carbon translocations. Isotopic aspects of the biogeochemistry of carbon: fractionations in equilibrium, fractionations in biological processes, interactions between organic and inorganic reservoirs, applications in biogeochemistry, stratigraphy and geology of hydrocarbons.
  • Carbon- and oxygen isotopes in the sedimentary environment: processes and applications in paleoclimatology and paleo-environment reconstruction. Introduction to the use of stable isotope ratios as paleothermometers.
  • The nitrogen cycle and anthropogenic impact, changing nitrogen reservoirs and 15N/14N and 180/16O fractionation to track nitrate transformations 
  • Isotope geochemistry of sulfur: fractionation mechanisms, biogeochemical cycles, reservoirs, applications.
  • Applications of tracers 13C/12C, 15N/14N and 30Si/28Si in isotope flux experiments.
  • Isotope geochemistry of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and Sulphur in processes of weathering, sedimentation, diagenesis, hydrothermalism, metamorphism, magmatism. Applications in petrology, ore geology, stratigraphy, geotectonics, 'global change' research, etc.
  • Illustrations of applications in material sciences, in biomedical and clinical research, in archaeology, in environmental sciences, etc.

Practical classes:

  • Exercises, fundamental and application-oriented, on the relations between delta, alpha, and T.
  • Demonstrations and basic laboratory work on analytical techniques.
  • Tutorials and/or seminars on case studies.
Studiemateriaal
Digitaal cursusmateriaal (Vereist) : Notes consisting of the slides shown during the lectures and specific research papers will be available via the CANVAS platform (VUB). Students take notes during lectures and practical classes. These notes are supplemented with provided texts, figures an, Learning platform
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : Carbon Isotope Techniques, Books available in the library of AMGC research unit, 978-0-12-179730-0
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : Principles of Stable Isotope Geochemistry, https://doi.org/10.25844/h9q1-0p82
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : Nitrogen Isotope Techniques, Books available in the library of AMGC research unit, 978-0-12-416965-4
Bijkomende info

Competences
General aims of the course: Understanding basic knowledge on isotope fractionation processes and applications of isotope chemistry in earth sciences, biogeochemistry and environmental sciences. The student has gained insights in the use of tracers (stable isotopes and radio-isotopes) as proxies of chemical, biological and geochemical processes occurring in natural systems.

Prior knowledge
Basic knowledge in chemistry, biology and geology as acquired during a bachelor in chemistry and biology.

Study Material
Notes consisting of the slides shown during the lectures and specific research papers
will be available via the CANVAS platform (VUB). Students take notes during lectures and practical classes. These notes are supplemented with provided texts, figures and maps, presentations, but also short texts, syllabi and articles on certain subjects. Complementary study material: during lectures, information and advice is given on textbooks, reference books and other scientific publications.

Complementary study material
Books available in the library of AMGC research unit.: Carbon Isotope Techniques ISBN: 978-0-12-179730-0; Nitrogen Isotope Techniques ISBN: 978-0-12-416965-4. 
Online book Principles of Stable Isotope Geochemistry by Zachary Sharp https://doi.org/10.25844/h9q1-0p82

Leerresultaten

General competences

  • The students are capable of situating the research field of biogeochemistry, within its current-day interdisciplinary context,
  • The students are familiar with the materials studied and the current state-of-the-art analytical techniques applied in biogeochemistry,
  • The students can identify relevant research questions related to the field of biogeochemistry and have notions of the present-day possibilities and limitations of biogeochemistry, 
  • The students are aware of the relevance of biogeochemistry and isotopic tracers to the society and can situate biogeochemistry within the dynamic planet Earth.

Beoordelingsinformatie

De beoordeling bestaat uit volgende opdrachtcategorieën:
Examen Mondeling bepaalt 80% van het eindcijfer

Examen Praktijk bepaalt 20% van het eindcijfer

Binnen de categorie Examen Mondeling dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:

  • Oral examination met een wegingsfactor 80 en aldus 80% van het totale eindcijfer.

    Toelichting: Oral examination following a written preparation of the answers.

Binnen de categorie Examen Praktijk dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:

  • Exam Practical met een wegingsfactor 20 en aldus 20% van het totale eindcijfer.

Aanvullende info mbt evaluatie

Oral examination following a written preparation of the answers.

Toegestane onvoldoende
Kijk in het aanvullend OER van je faculteit na of een toegestane onvoldoende mogelijk is voor dit opleidingsonderdeel.

Academische context

Deze aanbieding maakt deel uit van de volgende studieplannen:
Master of Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management: Standaard traject (enkel aangeboden in het Engels)
Master of Chemistry: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (enkel aangeboden in het Engels)