Carbon and Nitrogen Analysis of Environmental Samples

1. Preparation of Soil Samples

1. Dry soil samples at 60 °C for 48 h.
2. Pass the soil through a 2 mm x 2 mm sieve.
3. Put approximately 5 g of the soil into the ball mill grinder and grind for 2 min. It is important to get a homogeneous sample since your sample size will be very small.
4. Put milled soil into a small container and store in a desiccator until ready to use.

2. Setting up the Instrument Parameters

1. Turn on the Flash EA 1112 instrument in the back by flipping the switch up.
2. Turn on the computer.
3. Double click on the “Eager 300” icon to start the software program that runs the instrument.
4. Double click on the “NC Soils” icon to open the method that runs the instrument setup for soils.
5. Heat up the instrument by opening up the “Edit Elemental Analyzer Parameters” and clicking on the “Send” button. The parameters should be as follows (See Figures 1–3):
   a. Temperatures:  Left = 900 °C, Right = 680 °C, Oven = 50 °C
   b. Gas flow:  Carrier = 130 mL/min, Oxygen = 250 mL/min, Reference = 100 mL/min
   c. Cycle Runtime = 360 s
   d. Sampling Delay = 12 s
   e. Oxygen Injection End = 5 s
   f. Detector = Filament On
6. Create a sample table by clicking on “Edit Sample Table” and then “Fill Sample Table”. Change the filename to today’s date. Input the number of samples you plan to run, including the standards and blanks. Then click “Replace” to replace the last sample table that was created with your new sample table.

3. Creating a Standard Curve

1. Using forceps, remove one tin disc from the pack and mold it into a cup shape using the special sealing device. Avoid touching the tin disc with your fingers to avoid transferring oils from your fingertips. (See Figures 4–5)
2. Using forceps, place the tin disc on the microbalance and zero the balance.
3. Using forceps, remove the tin disc from the microbalance and using a microspatula, place approximately 1 mg of aspartic acid standard into the tin disc.
4. Weigh the tin disc with the aspartic acid standard on the microbalance. Enter this weight into the data table in the Eager 300 software on the computer.
5. Seal up the tin disc with the forceps so that none of the aspartic acid standard will spill out of it. Place the tin package into the autosampler. (See Figure 6)
6. Repeat steps 3.1 – 3.5, using approximately 5 mg of aspartic acid standard.
7. Repeat steps 3.1 – 3.5, using approximately 7.5 mg of aspartic acid standard.
8. Repeat steps 3.1 – 3.5, using approximately 10 mg of aspartic acid standard.

4. Loading the Autosampler with Soil Samples

1. Using forceps, remove one tin disc from the pack and mold it into a cup shape using the sealing device. You should not touch the tin with your fingers to avoid transferring oils from your fingertips.
2. Using forceps, place the tin disc on the microbalance and zero the balance.
3. Remove the tin disc from the microbalance and place approximately 50 mg of the homogenized soil into the tin disc using a microspatula.
4. Weigh the tin disc with soil sample on the microbalance. Enter this weight into the data table in the Eager 300 software on the computer.
5. Seal up the tin disc using the forceps so that the soil is contained. Transfer the tin package to the autosampler tray.
6. Repeat steps 4.1 – 4.5 for all of your samples. It is recommended to run triplicate trials of each sample. A triplicate experiment is considered a good rule of thumb to rule out experimental errors.

5. Running the Samples

1. When the appropriate temperatures have been reached on the instrument, the green “Temperature Ready” light will turn on. At the bottom of the screen on the computer, it will also say “Ready for Analysis”.
2. Before starting your sample run, click on “File” and “Save Method” to save the data you just input. It is recommended that you save the method with your last name and the date.
3. To begin the run, click on the green arrow and push “Start Now”.
4. It will take approximately 6 min per sample to run.
5. After the run is complete, you can see the results by clicking on “Recalculation” then “Summarize Results”.

Figure 1. Flash EA 1112 parameters setup screen 1.

Figure 2. Flash EA 1112 parameters setup screen 2.

Figure 3. Flash EA 1112 parameters setup screen 3.

Figure 4. Removing a tin disc with forceps.

Figure 5. The tin disc molded into a cup shape using the sealing device.

Figure 6. The tin package being placed into the autosampler.