MIT Stable Isotope Laboratory

Our interests lie in interplay among atmosphere, rock, water and microbe.  We apply stable isotope systems, in particular, multiple-sulfur isotope ratios to explore frontiers in isotope geochemistry.  Our current research projects include, photochemical sulfur isotope effect, early microbial evolution, deep biosphere, and seafloor hydrothermal deposits.  In addition, new project is starting under the NSF-MRI support to develop the state-of-the-art instrument for isotopomer monitoring of atmospheric nitrous oxide (with Ron Prinn oF EPAS and Center of Global Change Science). Interested students are encouraged to inquire about potential research projects in the laboratory.

 

Set up for SO2 photolysis to test S-MIF signatures as a function of pSO2, pN2, and UV sources.  The experiments provide some key insights into the source of S-MIF signatures in Archean rocks.

Large sulfur isotope effect does not require disproportionation.

Min Sub Sim, Tanja Bosak, Shuhei Ono

Science, 333, 74-77

Recent Publications from the lab

News article:

About our Science paper: Astrobiology.Network

Sulfur mass-independent fractionation in liquid phase chemistry: UV photolysis of phenacylphenylsulfone as a case study.

Sebastian Kopf, Shuhei Ono

Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, 85, 160-169

Effect of electron donors on the fractionation of sulfur isotopes by a marine desulfovibrio sp.

Min Sub Sim, Shuhei Ono, Katie Donovan, Stephanie P. Templer, T. Bosak Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, 75 4244-4259

Sulfur-33 constraints on the origin of secondary pyrite in altered oceanic basement

Shuhei Ono, Nicole S. Keller, Olivier Rouxel, Jeffrey C. Alt

Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, Available Online