The Platform for Chemical Analysis in Ecology (PACE) is a platform of UAR 2040 - CNRS / UM - Montpellier Ecology Evolution Biodiversity, hosted by CEFE, CNRS Campus, Route de Mende, Montpellier.

PACE offers all academic, private, local, national and international scientists:

• tools for preparing and conditioning samples prior to analysis;
• methods for analysing (quantifying and characterising) organic and mineral compounds in collected samples;
• training in routine analysis procedures, interpretation of results and good laboratory practice in chemistry;
• assistance in developing and implementing chemical analysis methods for ecology.

Its mission is to provide users with equipment and expertise, maintain equipment and supply consumables, but it does not perform operations for users.
In addition, PACE staff ensure that users work in compliance with health and safety rules.

PACE's main guidelines are set by its Steering Committee.
It is composed of:

• PACE staff;
• representatives of user teams;
• CEFE management;
• MEEB management;
• guest members depending on the topics discussed.

The main instruments available at PACE are:

• Thermo GC-MS, FID, quadrupole, liquid injection and Chromatoprobe®
• LECO GC-MS, TOF, liquid injection and SPME
• Shimadzu GC-MS, FID, quadrupole, thermal desorber
• GC-EAD, FID, electro-antennograph, liquid injection, SPME and Chromatoprobe®
• Elemental analyser, carbon and nitrogen analysis
• Atomic absorption, analysis of Ca, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Ni
• Sequential analyser, colorimetric analysis of phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, ammoniums
• FT-NIR, near-infrared spectrum acquisition
• Micro-catharometer, manual or 30-position multiplex injection
• PTR-MS TOF-Werk acquired as part of a Gepetos project

Requests for analyses at PACE must be made by appointment between the scientific project leader and the platform's technical manager, as soon as possible and at least three weeks before the desired start date. This allows us to define the analytical method best suited to the scientific question, draw up a provisional schedule and, where necessary, order the reagents and consumables required for the analyses.

If you would like to come and carry out analyses at PACE, please contact the team by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Reservations for PACE equipment can be made on the following website: https://grr.cefe.cnrs.fr. The equipment schedules are open to everyone. However, equipment reservations require a username and password. Your personal login details will be provided by the platform staff when your analysis project is accepted.

Two major analytical areas are developed at PACE:

Chemical mediation
Analyses offered:
Chromatographic analyses of liquid or headspace samples (SPME, Twister, Chromatoprobe, thermodesorption cartridge). We offer FID, MS and EAD detectors.
Our expertise:

• Advice on the choice of sampling method and the development of experiments (the experiment is set up by the operator);
• Basic practical and theoretical training in gas chromatography;
• Interpretation of mass spectrometry data acquired, within the framework of collaboration
  only (involvement from the project set-up stage).

Inorganic analyses
Analyses offered:
Colorimetric measurements of total phenols, condensed tannins (butanol/HCl method), total phosphates (molybdate blue method), nitrates, nitrites and ammonium. Elemental analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy (Pb, Cu, Ni, Ca, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mg, K). Elemental analysis
of the C/N ratio.
Our expertise:

• Advice on method selection;
• Individual practical training in protocol;
• Verification of the validity of acquired data.

Two secondary areas of expertise are also available:

Chemometrics
Analyses offered:
Acquisition of near-infrared spectra (NIRS).
Our expertise:

• Individual practical training on equipment;
• Assistance with data interpretation within the framework of collaboration (involvement from the
  project set-up stage).

Measurement of microbial activity
Analyses offered:
Quantification of N2O and CO2 by chromatography.
Our expertise:

• Advice on method selection;
• Individual practical training in the use of chromatography tools;
• Verification of the validity of acquired data.