Analytical Services > View by Isotope > Oxygen
Hydrogen | Carbon | Nitrogen | Sulfur
 Oxygen Isotope Analysis (18O/16O or δ18O)
Isotopic analysis of oxygen can be carried out on a variety of different sample types. Organic solids and liquids can be analyzed using a Thermal Conversion Elemental Analyzer (TC/EA) interfaced with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). Water samples are done by CRDS. Oxygen isotopes of dissolved nitrate is done using ion exchange techniques, followed by TC/EA-IRMS. Carbonates are done by acid digestion followed by dual inlet IRMS.
| Sample Type |
Method |
Recommended
Sample Size |
| Water |
CRDS* |
10 ml |
| Organic solids |
TC/EA-IRMS |
1 g |
| Organic liquids |
TC/EA-IRMS |
1 ml |
| Nitrate1 |
Ion exchange |
1,000 ml |
| Sulfates2 |
Barium sulfate precipitation |
1,000 ml |
| Carbonates2 |
Acid digestion |
500 mg |
*For clean fresh water only. Purification steps require additional procedures and incur additional costs.
1 Includes nitrogen (15N/14N) analysis
2 Includes sulfur (34S/32S) analysis
3 Includes carbon (13C/12C) analysis
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