6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4024123FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Chemistry
Educational team
Marc Elskens
Steven Goderis (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
30 contact hours Lecture
30 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
40 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content
  • 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.
Course material
Digital course material (Required) : 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
Handbook (Recommended) : Carbon Isotope Techniques, Books available in the library of AMGC research unit, 978-0-12-179730-0
Handbook (Recommended) : Principles of Stable Isotope Geochemistry, https://doi.org/10.25844/h9q1-0p82
Handbook (Recommended) : Nitrogen Isotope Techniques, Books available in the library of AMGC research unit, 978-0-12-416965-4
Additional 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

Learning Outcomes

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.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 80% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 20% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral examination with a relative weight of 80 which comprises 80% of the final mark.

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

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Exam Practical with a relative weight of 20 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral examination following a written preparation of the answers.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management: Standaard traject
Master of Chemistry: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry