The Open UniversitySkip to content
 

A Technique for the Determination of 18O/16O and 17O/16O Isotopic Ratios in Water from Small Liquid and Solid Samples

Baker, L.; Franchi, I.A.; Maynard, J.; Wright, I.P. and Pillinger, C.T. (2002). A Technique for the Determination of 18O/16O and 17O/16O Isotopic Ratios in Water from Small Liquid and Solid Samples. Analytical Chemistry, 74(7), pp. 1665–1673.

DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Link: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1021/ac010509s
Google Scholar: Look up in Google Scholar

Abstract

We have developed a new technique in which a solid reagent, cobalt(III) fluoride, is used to prepare oxygen gas for isotope ratio measurement from water derived either from direct injection or from the pyrolysis of solid samples. The technique uses continuous flow, isotope ratio monitoring, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (irmGC/MS) to measure the 180 and 17O of the oxygen gas. Water from appropriate samples is evolved by a procedure of stepped pyrolysis (0-1000 C, typically in 50 C increments) under a flowing stream of helium carrier gas. The method has considerable advantages over others used for water analysis in that it is quick; requires only small samples, typically 1-50 mg of whole rock samples (corresponding to ~0.2 mol of H2O); and the reagent is easy and safe to handle. Reproducibility in isotope ratio measurement obtained from pyrolysis of samples of a terrestrial solid standard are 18O ± 0.54, 17O ± 0.33, and 17O ± 0.10”, 1 in all cases. The technique was developed primarily for the analysis of meteorites, and the efficiency of the method is illustrated herein by results from water standards, solid reference materials, and a sample of the Murchison CM2 meteorite.

Item Type: Journal Article
ISSN: 0003-2700
Extra Information: Please note that some of the scientific symbols in the title and the abstract have not copied across correctly.
Academic Unit/Department: Science > Physical Sciences
Interdisciplinary Research Centre: Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR)
Item ID: 6178
Depositing User: Users 6044 not found.
Date Deposited: 15 Feb 2007
Last Modified: 02 Dec 2010 19:55
URI: http://oro.open.ac.uk/id/eprint/6178

Actions (login may be required)

View Item
Public: Report issue / request change

Policies | Disclaimer

© The Open University   + 44 (0)870 333 4340   general-enquiries@open.ac.uk