Marco Andrea Bolandini

Research area

Leading the Design and Development of the Online Ramped Oxidation (ORO) System for Advanced Radiocarbon Dating

- Spearheading the conceptualization, design, and development phases of the combustion oven prototype, the Online Ramped Oxidation (ORO) system. This pioneering technology utilizes an innovative approach, systematically increasing temperatures to combust sediments. The incremental temperature progression facilitates the thermal dissection of different carbon compounds, enabling precise measurements in radiocarbon dating methodologies.

- Instrumental in the integration of the ORO system with the Double Trap Interface (DTI), a cutting-edge apparatus devised by Dr. De Maria in 2021 at ETH. Leveraging Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) at  Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP) at ETH Zurich (https://ams.ethz.ch, the ORO system enables precise measurement of gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) injection.

- Focused research on advancing radiocarbon dating techniques, synergistically combined with Pyro-Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Pyro-GCMS), to provide comprehensive insights into the carbon cycle dynamics within permafrost regions.

- Currently engaged in the radiocarbon dating of surface sediments in the Mackenzie Lakes (Northwest Territories, CA), Perfamfrost Carbon on the Beaufort Shelf (PeCaBeau) surface sediments (https://nunataryuk.org/news/160-pecabeau-let-s-go), and Peel Plateau sediments.

- Contribute to the broader scientific community's understanding of carbon dynamics in permafrost areas, with the overarching goal of refining radiocarbon dating methodologies for comprehensive carbon cycle analysis.