EA-IRMS

Nitrogen (¹⁵N) Carbon (¹³C) and Sulphur (³⁴S) Analysis of Solids by EA-IRMS

The Lab is equipped with facilities to measure ¹⁵N, ¹³C and ³⁴S isotope analyses of solid materials, such as animal and plant tissues, sediments, soils etc., using an elemental analyzer interfaced to a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). We analyze all three elements ¹⁵N, ¹³C and Sulphur ³⁴S in the same sample.

Solid materials are analyzed for ¹⁵N, ¹³C and ³⁴S isotopes using a pyro-cube elemental analyzer interfaced to a isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Isoprime).
During analysis, several replicates of laboratory standards are re-run together with the samples. These laboratory standards are usually selected to be compositionally similar to the samples being analyzed are calibrated against IAEA (Vienna) Standard Reference Materials (e.g. USGS-40, IAEA-N2 and IAEA-S1). A sample’s preliminary isotope ratio is measured relative to reference gases analyzed with each sample.