With two continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometers interfaced with configured elemental analysers, OEA Labs routinely analyse the stable isotope ratios of carbon (¹³C/¹²C, δ13C), nitrogen (¹⁵N/¹⁴N, δ15N), oxygen (¹⁸O/¹⁶O, δ18O) and sulphur (³⁴S/³²S, δ34S) on solid or liquid samples.

In stable isotope analysis, milligram amounts of samples are combusted or pyrolysed at high temperature in a helium carrier gas. After suitable preparation the measurable gases (N₂, CO₂, CO or SO₂) are separated on a chromatography column. A small proportion of this gas is fed into an evacuated ion source where the gas molecules are accelerated into a strong magnetic field. The gas species of different masses are subsequently deflected across a collector array where the individual masses are monitored and quantified against known references.

Links to Stable Isotope Analysis services:

• Introduction
• Dual ¹⁵N & ¹³C
• ¹⁵N
• ¹³C
• ¹⁸O
• ³⁴S
• Sample Preparation
• Pre-weighed Sample Preparation

Return to:
All Analysis Services List