Stable Isotope Facility

University of Wyoming

TC/EA-IRMS

δ²H and δ¹⁸O of Organic and Inorganic Materials

Oxygen and hydrogen containing compounds occur in both organic (such as plants and animals) and inorganic (such as soils) systems.   δ¹⁸O and δ²H ratios of these materials can be determined by the analysis of the CO and H₂ generated by the pyrolysis of the material.  The technique used to generate CO and H₂ is called temperature conversion elemental analysis (TC/EA).  In this method, solid samples are placed into silver capsules and then dropped into a TC/EA generating the product gases.  These gases (CO, H₂) are separated using a gas chromatograph, sent to an open split interface and then to the IRMS for analysis (TC/EA-IRMS).

Typical sample size:    100-200 μg