Stable isotope analysis of organic carbon in small (µg C) samples and dissolved organic matter using a GasBench preparation device

The stable isotopes of organic matter can provide valuable information on carbon cycling dynamics, microbial metabolisms, and past climates. Since bulk measurements may mask dynamic changes to critical portions of the organic pool, researchers are increasingly isolating individual compounds for isot...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rapid communications in mass spectrometry 2012-01, Vol.26 (1), p.9-16
Main Authors: Lang, Susan Q., Bernasconi, Stefano M., Früh-Green, Gretchen L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon Isotopes - analysis
Cholesterol - chemistry
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Fresh Water - chemistry
Gallic Acid - analogs & derivatives
Gallic Acid - chemistry
Glucose - chemistry
Humic Substances - analysis
Limit of Detection
Mass Spectrometry - instrumentation
Mass Spectrometry - methods
Organic Chemicals - chemistry
Oxidation-Reduction
Phthalic Acids - chemistry
Potassium Acetate - chemistry
Reproducibility of Results
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Summary:The stable isotopes of organic matter can provide valuable information on carbon cycling dynamics, microbial metabolisms, and past climates. Since bulk measurements may mask dynamic changes to critical portions of the organic pool, researchers are increasingly isolating individual compounds for isotopic analysis. The amount of carbon isolated is frequently small, requiring specialized equipment for its analysis. We present a simple and accurate method to measure the δ13C values of µg‐amounts of organic compounds and dissolved organic matter in freshwaters using wet oxidation and a GasBench II preparation device. Samples containing 3 µg C can be analyzed with a precision of
ISSN:0951-4198
1097-0231
DOI:10.1002/rcm.5287