Continuous flow stable isotope methods for study of δ13C fractionation during halomethane production and degradation

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
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Abstract

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/MS/IRMS) methods for δ13C measurement of the halomethanes CH3Cl, CH3Br, CH3I and methanethiol (CH3SH) during studies of their biological production, biological degradation, and abiotic reactions are presented. Optimisation of gas chromatographic parameters allowed the identification and quantification of CO2, O2, CH3Cl, CH3Br, CH3I and CH3SH from a single sample, and also the concurrent measurement of δ13C for each of the halomethanes and methanethiol. Precision of δ13C measurements for halomethane standards decreased (±0.3, ±0.5 and ±1.3‰) with increasing mass (CH3Cl, CH3Br, CH3I, respectively). Given that carbon isotope effects during biological production, biological degradation and some chemical (abiotic) reactions can be as much as 100‰, stable isotope analysis offers a precise method to study the global sources and sinks of these halogenated compounds that are of considerable importance to our understanding of stratospheric ozone destruction. 

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Continuous flow stable isotope methods for study of δ13C fractionation during halomethane production and degradation
Series title Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
DOI 10.1002/rcm.219
Volume 15
Issue 5
Year Published 2001
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Description 7 p.
First page 357
Last page 363
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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