δ13C, δ15N or δ34S in bulk solid materials

Sample material: Any solid that can be combusted at 1020°C and that contains sufficient C, N or S. Typical sample types are rocks, plants, animal tissues.

Precision:  Typically < 0.3  permil  for  δ¹³C  and < 0.3  permil  for  δ¹⁵N 

Instrument:  Thermo Scientific Delta V+ connected to a Flash 1120 Elemental Analyzer and a Flash HT  

Sample requirements: Typically, we need >50 µg C, N and S. Sample sizes and other requirements may vary greatly on the sample material and the experiment requirements. We recommend that you contact us for discussion and advice about ideal sample sizes.  

Routines: Sample preparation depends greatly on type of sample and purpose of analyses. Generally, all samples are homogenized (e.g. by grinding in a mortar) and dried (60-80°C).  Soils, sediments, rocks or animals containing carbonates needs carbonate removal  (acid washing)  before  analysis of  δ¹³C  in organic C. One might also want to remove fat from tissue with significant fat as fats and proteins often have different  δ¹³C.  For particulate organic carbon samples or other samples collected on filters, C, N and S free filters must be used, preferably ignited quarts filters. 

Samples are then weighed  (0.1 - 10 mg depending on material)  into tin or silver capsules before analyses.  The capsules are dropped into a furnace containing metallic catalysts at 1020°C  with a pulse of O₂  where samples oxidize  to  CO₂,  N oxides and SO₂.  The gasses are passed through a reactor with reduced copper reducing Noxides to N₂  and a water trap. The gasses are separated in a packed GC column before they are passed to the isotope ratio mass spectrometer.