Coupled N, C and S stable isotope measurements using a dual-column gas chromatography system
Author(s)
Fry, Brian
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2007
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Many laboratories routinely analyze plant, animal and soil samples with elemental analyzers coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometers, obtaining rapid results for nitrogen (%N, d15N) and carbon (%C, d13C) from the same sample. The coupled N and C measurements are possible because of a gas chromatography (GC) separation of N2 and CO2 gases produced in elemental analysis. Adding a second GC column allows additional measurement of sulfur (%S, d34S) from the same sample, so that combined N, C and S information is obtained routinely. Samples are 1-15?mg, and replicates generally differ by less than 0.1頦or d15N, d13C or d34S. ...
View more >Many laboratories routinely analyze plant, animal and soil samples with elemental analyzers coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometers, obtaining rapid results for nitrogen (%N, d15N) and carbon (%C, d13C) from the same sample. The coupled N and C measurements are possible because of a gas chromatography (GC) separation of N2 and CO2 gases produced in elemental analysis. Adding a second GC column allows additional measurement of sulfur (%S, d34S) from the same sample, so that combined N, C and S information is obtained routinely. Samples are 1-15?mg, and replicates generally differ by less than 0.1頦or d15N, d13C or d34S. An example application shows that the N, C, and S measurement system allows a three-dimensional view of element dynamics in estuarine systems that are undergoing pollution inputs from upstream watersheds. Extension of these GC principles should allow coupled H, C, N, and S isotope measurements in future work. Copyright 頲007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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View more >Many laboratories routinely analyze plant, animal and soil samples with elemental analyzers coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometers, obtaining rapid results for nitrogen (%N, d15N) and carbon (%C, d13C) from the same sample. The coupled N and C measurements are possible because of a gas chromatography (GC) separation of N2 and CO2 gases produced in elemental analysis. Adding a second GC column allows additional measurement of sulfur (%S, d34S) from the same sample, so that combined N, C and S information is obtained routinely. Samples are 1-15?mg, and replicates generally differ by less than 0.1頦or d15N, d13C or d34S. An example application shows that the N, C, and S measurement system allows a three-dimensional view of element dynamics in estuarine systems that are undergoing pollution inputs from upstream watersheds. Extension of these GC principles should allow coupled H, C, N, and S isotope measurements in future work. Copyright 頲007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
View less >
Journal Title
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
Volume
21
Issue
5
Subject
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Chemical Sciences
Earth Sciences
Biological Sciences