Nu Instruments | Sequential Sulphur, Nitrogen and Carbon Isotope Analysis by EA-IRMS
This application note presents a practical solution for sequential sulphur, nitrogen and carbon isotope measurements within a single EA-IRMS analysis. The method combines innovative gas handling with the Horizon IRMS to deliver fast, accurate and high-throughput SNC isotope analysis.
Simultaneous isotope analysis of sulphur, nitrogen and carbon has traditionally been challenging due to gas separation and reactor performance limitations. This application note outlines a solution developed with Hekatech that overcomes these challenges while maintaining analytical precision and throughput.
The method uses dual gas chromatography columns and strategic valve switching to separate SO₂, N₂ and CO₂ efficiently. Sulphur compounds are analysed first, minimising peak broadening and maximising signal intensity, while nitrogen and carbon measurements follow in the same analytical sequence.
The resulting workflow delivers three isotope measurements in less than eleven minutes from a single sample. Performance data show precision typically better than 0.1‰ for nitrogen and carbon, and better than 0.15‰ for sulphur, even in samples containing very small sulphur concentrations. Enhanced reactor lifetime and reduced consumable usage further improve laboratory efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
- Sequential δ³⁴S, δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C analysis is completed in a single run.
- Analysis time is under eleven minutes while maintaining high precision.
- Dual-column design improves sulphur performance and extends reactor life.
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