Our dedicated state-of-the-art sample preparation laboratory is eqiupped with an AGE3 automated graphitization system.  The AGE3 is capable of generating up to 21 graphite samples per day and is coupled with both an elemental analyser and a carbonate handling system to generate graphite samples from both organic and inorganic C sources, respectively.  It is also home to a small gas-line system (IonPlus TSE) designed for high flexibility when it comes to handling gas samples and procedures such as off-line oxidation.

The AGE3 graphitzation system is capable of reducing 7 CO₂ samples to graphite simultaneously.  This is performed at high temperature using an iron catalyst under an atmosphere of hydrogen.  The CO₂ can be generated in a number of ways:

• Samples containing organic C can be oxidised in our Vario Isotope Cube elemental analyser
• Carbonate samples can undergo an acid hydrolysis using phosphoric acid
• We also have the capability to chemically oxidise organic samples or to directly extract CO₂ from air or water samples

Graphite is pressed into cathodes (targets) using a pneumatic sample press, producing an ideal sputtering surface and repeatible sample compression.

BRAMS is also equipped with two chromatographic systems for the isolation of individual compounds for compound-specific radiocarbon dating: a preparative capillary gas chromatography system and a preparative HPLC instument with a fraction collector.  All of this is supported by a our very close ties with the adjoining Archaeological Chemistry laboratories and a range of anciliary equipment including EA-IRMS, GC-MS and GC-FID