Stable isotope sample types

Stable isotope ratios measured per sample type

Method

Minimum sample size

Water sample ²H / ¹H

GB-IRMS

50ml

Water sample ¹⁸O / ¹⁶O

GB-IRMS

50ml

Water sample nitrate content (NO^3-)

¹⁵N / ¹⁴N

EA-IRMS

1,5l 12mg/l conc.

Water sample ammonia content (NH⁴⁺)

¹⁵N / ¹⁴N

EA-IRMS

6mg/l NH⁴⁺ (1L)

Water sample CO₃²–

¹³C / ¹²C

GB-IRMS

0,5l

Water sample SO₄ ^2-

³⁴S / ³²S

EA-IRMS

10mg BaSO₄ formed from sulphate

Water sample SO₄ ²

¹⁸O / ¹⁶O

TC/EA-IRMS

10mg BaSO₄ formed from sulphate

Water sample ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr

ICP-MS

50ml

Bone, tooth collagen δ¹³C content

GB-IRMS

2-5g

Bone, tooth collagen δ¹⁵N content

GB-IRMS

2-5g

Bone, tooth collagen δ³⁴S content

GB-IRMS

2-5g

Bone, tooth apatite δ¹⁸O

TC/EA-IRMS

5g

Bone, tooth ⁸⁷Sr /⁸⁶Sr

ICP-MS

2-5g

Bone, tooth Pb

ICP-MS

2-5g

Background samples (small rodent bone, tooth, soil, plant, shell) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr

ICP-MS

2-5g

Dolomite, tephra ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr

ICP-MS

A few milligrams of sample

Organic samples (wine, strawberries, honey, etc.) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, Pb

ICP-MS

A few grams of sample

Carbonate ¹³C / ¹²C

GB-IRMS

1g

Carbonate ¹⁸O / ¹⁶O

GB-IRMS

1g

Sulphur containing minerals ³⁴S / ³²S

EA/IRMS

10mg formed BaSO₄

Gas samples ¹³C /¹²C, ¹⁵N / ¹⁴N

Dual Inlet IRMS

100ml

Methane ²H/¹H

Dual Inlet IRMS

500ml

Methane ¹³C/¹²C

Dual Inlet IRMS

500ml

Organic matter ¹³C/¹²C, ²H/¹H, ¹⁵N / ¹⁴N, ¹⁸O / ¹⁶O, ³⁴S / ³²S

EA/IRMS and TC/EA-IRMS

1g

Cellulose ¹⁸O / ¹⁶O

TC/EA-IRMS

20mg cellulose