Preparation and analysis of nitrogen-bearing compounds in water for stable isotope ratio measurement

By: , and 
Edited by: P. A. de Groot

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Abstract

This chapter reviews methods for analyzing "natural abundance" nitrogen-bearing compounds in water for δ15N, δ18O, and δ17O. The techniques that are reviewed are Kjeldahl distillation and digestion, diffusion, micro diffusion, ion exchange, and microbial denitrifier methods. It overlaps the contents of the preparation of ecological and biogeochemical samples for isotope analysis and also covers sections on particulate organic nitrogen and biological samples. Nitrogen comprises 78% of the atmosphere, oxygen 21% and argon 1%. There are two stable isotopes of N are 14N and 15N and a wide range of oxidation numbers exhibited by nitrogen compounds. Developments of continuous-flow mass spectrometry makes it possible to determine both δ15N and δ18O values of nitrate samples. Such techniques are particularly useful for small-size samples. With decreasing sample size, possible isotopic fractionations associated with extraction from the matrix, contaminants in the reagents, and leaks will become more significant. Due to the interest in distinguishing different species of organic-N compounds, the diffusion method is applied to differentiate types of organic-N.

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Preparation and analysis of nitrogen-bearing compounds in water for stable isotope ratio measurement
Chapter 15
DOI 10.1016/B978-044451114-0/50017-X
Volume 1
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 43 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Handbook of stable isotope analytical techniques
First page 305
Last page 347
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