Gas chromatography/isotope-ratio mass spectrometry method for high-precision position-dependent 15N and 18O measurements of atmospheric nitrous oxide

Röckmann, Thomas, Kaiser, Jan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1553-4043, Brenninkmeijer, Carl A. M. and Brand, Willi A. (2003) Gas chromatography/isotope-ratio mass spectrometry method for high-precision position-dependent 15N and 18O measurements of atmospheric nitrous oxide. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 17 (16). pp. 1897-1908. ISSN 0951-4198

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Abstract

We describe an automated gas chromatography/isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS) method for the determination of the 18O and position-resolved 15N content of nitrous oxide at natural isotope abundance. The position information is obtained from successive measurement of the isotopic composition of the N2O+ ion at m/z 44, 45, 46 and the NO+ fragment ion at m/z 30, 31. The fragment ion analysis is complicated by a non-linearity in the mass spectrometer that has to be taken into account. Evaluation of the absolute peak areas allows for a simultaneous determination of the N2O mixing ratio for atmospheric samples. Samples with mixing ratios ranging from a few nmol/mol up to the percent level can be analyzed using different sample inlet systems. The high concentration inlet system provides an easy and quick method to carry out various diagnostic tests, in particular to perform realistic linearity tests. A gas chromatographic set-up with a split column and a backflush possibility improves analytical precision and excludes interferences by substances with long retention times from preceding runs. We also describe a new open split interface that uses only a single transfer capillary to the mass spectrometer for sample and reference gas.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Atmospheric Chemistry (former - to 2018) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Climate, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017)
Depositing User:	Rosie Cullington
Date Deposited:	15 Jun 2011 10:33
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 10:36
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/32595
DOI:	10.1002/rcm.1132

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