Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis on Small Samples Using a Near-conventional EA-IRMS System

Abstract

Analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios are now popular among many study fields mainly due to the development of EA-IRMS. It is difficult to run the tiny samples or the samples with low carbon or nitrogen concentrations with the normal EA-IRMS setting. Here we introduce the modification of EA-IRMS for the tiny samples. The analytical system with the narrow oxidation and reduction tubes allows better peak shapes for carbon and nitrogen, which increases the sensitivity of EA-IRMS. This system is now available for the users in Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University without any big troubles in the analysis. Because the modification introduced here is not so complicated and the users can also use the normal settings whenever required, many EA-IRMS users can apply this system relatively easily.