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Automated Analysis of Light-Element Stable Isotopes by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (CAT#: STEM-ST-0005-LJX)

Introduction

Gas isotope ratio mass spectrometry has greatly increasedour understanding of the biogeochemical cycles of C,N, S, and H2O in naturaland agricultural ecosystems. This knowledge is helping to improve crop yieldsand water use,reduce pollution from agricultural chemicals,and documentsources and fluxes of the greenhouse gases. The application of isotope ratio massspectrometry to soil science,in particular,is enhancing our understanding ofecosystem structure and function and facilitating our development of sustainableresource management systems. Automated analysis of stable isotopes of the elements, H,C, N,O, and shas become highly developed, and isotope ratio mass spectrometry can be used for isotope analysis of these elements.




Principle

Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) leverages magnetic sector mass spectrometry to enable high-precision measurement of the stable isotope content of a sample. Typical measurements target hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen analyses—although elements with masses up to and including sulfur can be measured. Solid, liquid, or gas phase samples are converted to simple gases then introduced to the IRMS. During analysis, an electron impact source ionizes sample-derived gas which is then accelerated down a flight tube, separated by mass, and quantified using a series of Faraday cups. The high precision of IRMS enables enumeration of even very small isotopic fractionation associated with physical, chemical, and biological transformations or natural abundance measurements.

Applications

For explaining the detailed molecular mechanisms behind biological processes
For understanding and quantifying nutrient and material exchanges between ecosystems
For providing ultra-precise stable isotope analyses
For understanding the geological history of the Earth
For food authenticity, forensic science, medical research and anti-doping testing

Procedure

1. Fill the reaction tube and install it, connect the gas path
2. Check for helium leaks
3. Heat up the reactor, wait for the reaction tube to burn stable, adjust the state of the equipment
4. Wrap the sample in a tin cup and test the sample
5. Store and process data

Materials

• Sample Type:
H,C, N,O and other elements

Notes

1.The approach is also valuable for quantifying the reactivity and progression of an applied stable isotope tracer to help determine reaction rates and final disposition of applied substrates.
2.IRMS offers a way of measuring isotopic variations with extremely high levels of accuracy. It can be used to detect isotope values of lighter elements with no issues, making it instrumental in the analysis of organic and natural samples.
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