Reinhard Langel1, Jens Dyckmans. 1. Centre for Stable Isotope Research and Analysis, Büsgen Institute, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
Abstract
RATIONALE: A high sensitivity elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometer setup was developed to allow analysis of (13)C and (15)N isotopic composition on microgram amounts of C and N, respectively. METHODS: Increased sensitivity of a conventional elemental analyzer equipped with a low blank autosampler was obtained by decreased carrier gas flow of 35 mL/min. The diameters of the oxidation and reduction reactors and water trap were reduced to 7.8, 7.8 and 4 mm i.d., respectively, to obtain sharp sample peaks in the mass spectrometer. To increase the lifetime of the reduction reactor, a 1:1 He/O2 mixture was used as oxidizing agent in the elemental analyzer. RESULTS: Sample amounts of 0.6 µg N and 1 µg C were sufficient for accurate isotopic analysis with <1 ‰ standard error after blank correction. One major advantage of the setup is the easy switching between conventional EA and μEA as only consumable parts need to be exchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed setup proved to be suitable to analyze minute amounts of C and N in one analytical run simultaneously.
RATIONALE: A high sensitivity elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometer setup was developed to allow analysis of (13)C and (15)N isotopiccomposition on microgram amounts of C and N, respectively. METHODS: Increased sensitivity of a conventional elemental analyzer equipped with a low blank autosampler was obtained by decreased carrier gas flow of 35 mL/min. The diameters of the oxidation and reduction reactors and water trap were reduced to 7.8, 7.8 and 4 mm i.d., respectively, to obtain sharp sample peaks in the mass spectrometer. To increase the lifetime of the reduction reactor, a 1:1 He/O2 mixture was used as oxidizing agent in the elemental analyzer. RESULTS: Sample amounts of 0.6 µg N and 1 µg C were sufficient for accurate isotopic analysis with <1 ‰ standard error after blank correction. One major advantage of the setup is the easy switching between conventional EA and μEA as only consumable parts need to be exchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed setup proved to be suitable to analyze minute amounts of C and N in one analytical run simultaneously.
Authors: Alena Krause; Dorothee Sandmann; Sarah L Bluhm; Sergey Ermilov; Rahayu Widyastuti; Noor Farikhah Haneda; Stefan Scheu; Mark Maraun Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-10-25 Impact factor: 3.240