Supported projects

EXALTANT is a project for the acquisition of a new high-sensitivity GC-MS dedicated to the analysis of molecular biomarkers preserved in ancient or actucal environmental, anthropogenic and biological matrices. This instrument will enable our organic geochemistry platform to carry out its scientific and service activities by maintaining our capacity to analyse a large number of samples and addressing a wide range of scientific questions (archaeology, environment, palaeoclimates and palaeoenvironments, ecology). In addition to the consistency of the preparatory and analysis chains, our platform stands out for its ability to target original and specific molecular biomarkers present in trace amounts in the matrices studied (lacustrine and marine sediments, soils, archaeological contexts, artefacts, etc.). The developments made possible by this new equipment will enable us to continue exploring new matrices (guano, fatbergs, sewer sediments, etc.) and to open up the platform’s activities to other disciplines (heritage sciences, palaeontology, etc.). This equipment will strengthen the LSCE’s Organic Geochemistry platform, which is part of the Saclay plateau’s shared PANOPLY platform and a member of the ‘French Organic Geochemistry’ (GEOF) Instrument Network of the RéGEF research infrastructure.