The measuring procedure and corrections for the high-precision mass-spectrometric analysis of isotopic abundance ratios, especially referring to carbon, oxygen and nitrogen

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1973 · International Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Ion Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7381(73)80044-0· OSTI ID:4369493

Mook, W. G.; Grootes, P. M.

ABS>In order to determine isotopic abundance ratios such as /sup 13/C/ / sup 12/C, /sup 18/O//sup 16/O or /sup 15/N//sup 14/N, a mass spectrometer reads the ratio of the voltages generated by the isotopic ion beams, trapped by a double collector system. The effect of the gas inlet pressure on the voltage ratio in the case of nitrogen and carbon dioxide is determined experimentally. A knowledge of this pressure dependence provides a method of determining the voltage ratio, which is independent of the inlet pressure. The work of Craig is reviewed and a detailed treatment of the measuring procedure, of the corrections to be applied to the voltage ratios, viz. for pressure effects, of the way in which the voltage ratios are transformed into isotopic abundances, and of disturbing factors such as spectrometer background and sample contamination is given. Although the stable isotopes of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen in CO/sub 2/ and N/sub 2/, respectively, are specifically dealt with, the general equations also apply to isotopic analyses on other gases, such as argon (/sup 36/Ar//sup 40/ Ar) and SO/sub 2/ (/sup 34/S//sup 32/S).

• Research Organization: Univ. of Groningen, Netherlands
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-007538
• OSTI ID: 4369493
• Journal Information: International Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Ion Physics, Vol. 12, Issue 3; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74; ISSN 0020-7381
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

N40120* -Chemistry-Analytical & Separations Chemistry- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
*CARBON- MASS SPECTROSCOPY
*MASS SPECTROSCOPY- CORRECTIONS
*NITROGEN- MASS SPECTROSCOPY
*OXYGEN- MASS SPECTROSCOPY
ABUNDANCE
CARBON 12
CARBON 13
CARBON DIOXIDE
ISOTOPE RATIO
NITROGEN 14
NITROGEN 15
OXYGEN 16
OXYGEN 18
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE