Improving the measurement of nitrogen stable isotopes in organic materials containing high C:N ratios using a 5A molecular sieve column

Matheus C. Carvalho; Paula Gomez Alvarez; Luke C Jeffrey; Damien Troy Maher

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2024.102889

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Improving the measurement of nitrogen stable isotopes in organic materials containing high C:N ratios using a 5A molecular sieve column

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Improving the measurement of nitrogen stable isotopes in organic materials containing high C:N ratios using a 5A molecular sieve column

Matheus C. Carvalho, Paula Gomez Alvarez, Luke C Jeffrey and Damien Troy Maher

MethodsX, Vol.13, 102889

12/2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2024.102889

Appears in Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications

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Abstract

5A molecular sieve

bark

carbon monoxide

elemental analysis

nitrogen

stable isotopes

The nitrogen stable isotope composition (δ15N) of plant materials has numerous applications. Plant materials like bark can have a very high C:N ratio. Incomplete C combustion in such samples interferes with the δ15N measurement due to CO production. We modified the standard setup for δ15N measurement using an elemental analyzer (EA) coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) by incorporating a 5A molecular sieve column, which better separates N2 from CO. We compared this new modified setup and the standard one for the measurement of bark samples. Precision and accuracy for δ15N in standards with low C:N ratio were equivalent for the two methods. However, for bark the results obtained with the new method had better precision and accuracy than the standard method. Replicates are nevertheless recommended with the new method to ensure confidence in the results. •During elemental analysis, incomplete combustion of material with high C:N ratio can lead to CO formation, which interferes with δ15N IRMS measurements. •Here we use a 5A molsieve column to remove the CO interference in δ15N measurements Precision and accuracy on δ15N measurements of samples with high C content are significantly improved

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Title: Improving the measurement of nitrogen stable isotopes in organic materials containing high C:N ratios using a 5A molecular sieve column
Creators: Matheus C. Carvalho - Southern Cross University
Paula Gomez Alvarez - Southern Cross University
Luke C Jeffrey - Southern Cross University
Damien Troy Maher - Southern Cross University
Publication Details: MethodsX, Vol.13, 102889
Publisher: Elsevier B.V
Grants: Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle, DP210100096, Australian Research Council
Barking up the right trees – A microbial solution for our methane problem, DE240100338, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Grant note: Graham Lancaster and Les Christidis, SCU SCARS, have been supportive of this and other related work. Thanks to Dr. Sebastian Euler for lab assistance. This research was funded by DP210100096, DE240100338, and The Hermon Slade Foundation.
Identifiers: 991013214589902368
Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Improving the measurement of nitrogen stable isotopes in organic materials containing high C:N ratios using a 5A molecular sieve column

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