Division S-3-soil microbiology and biochemistry
Journal Article
·
· Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6645690
Steam distillation methods are commonly used to prepare Kjeldahl digests for N stable isotope analysis. Steam distillation requires skilled operation of specialized equipment as well as considerable operator time, and is subject to sample cross contamination unless precautionary washing procedures are adopted. A simple inexpensive, labor saving diffusion method for Kjeldahl digests using disposable polypropylene specimen containers (128 mL) with threaded lids was devised to overcome problems with steam distillation. Diffused ammonia was collected in a disposable test tube (12 by 75 mm) containing an acid trap. Fractionation of N stable isotopes was <1% for diffused diluted simulated Kjeldahl digests, even when <20% of the initial NH/sub 3/ present was diffused. As diffusion becomes more complete isotope fractionation decreases. Direct comparison of aliquots of the same plant tissue Kjeldahl digest by steam distillation and diffusion over a wide range of /sup 15/N enrichments (0.36-43.3 atom %) indicated that deviation of the two methods was about 1%. The /sup 15/N enrichment of diffused samples was consistently slightly less than that of steam distilled samples. The method is recommended for research using /sup 15/N enriched or depleted sources, but not for research measuring natural variation in /sup 15/N abundance, unless complete diffusion is assured.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
- OSTI ID:
- 6645690
- Journal Information:
- Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 51:1; ISSN SSSJD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
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Journal Article
·
Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980
· Anal. Chem.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5166720
Comparison of procedures for reducing cross-contamination during steam distillations in nitrogen-15 tracer research
Journal Article
·
· Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:7190787
Isotope fractionation of $sup 15$N and $sup 14$N in microbiological nitrogen transformations: a theoretical model
Journal Article
·
Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1972
· J. Environ. Qual., v. 2, no. 2, pp. 247-252
·
OSTI ID:4329942
Related Subjects
510101 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMMONIA
DIFFUSION
DISTILLATION
FRACTIONATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEASURING METHODS
NITROGEN 15
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
SOILS
STABLE ISOTOPES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMMONIA
DIFFUSION
DISTILLATION
FRACTIONATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEASURING METHODS
NITROGEN 15
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
SOILS
STABLE ISOTOPES
TRACER TECHNIQUES