Online 13C and 14C gas measurements by EA-IRMS–AMS at ETH Zürich

Mcintyre, C. P. , Wacker, L., Haghipour, N., Blattmann, T. M., Fahrni, S., Usman, M., Eglinton, T. I. and Synal, H.-A. (2017) Online 13C and 14C gas measurements by EA-IRMS–AMS at ETH Zürich. Radiocarbon, 59(3), pp. 893-903. (doi: 10.1017/RDC.2016.68)

Abstract

Studies using carbon isotopes to understand the global carbon cycle are critical to identify and quantify sources, sinks, and processes and how humans may impact them. 13C and 14C are routinely measured individually; however, there is a need to develop instrumentation that can perform concurrent online analyses that can generate rich data sets conveniently and efficiently. To satisfy these requirements, we coupled an elemental analyzer to a stable isotope mass spectrometer and an accelerator mass spectrometer system fitted with a gas ion source. We first tested the system with standard materials and then reanalyzed a sediment core from the Bay of Bengal that had been analyzed for 14C by conventional methods. The system was able to produce %C, 13C, and 14C data that were accurate and precise, and suitable for the purposes of our biogeochemistry group. The system was compact and convenient and is appropriate for use in a range of fields of research.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Paper presented at the 2015 Radiocarbon Conference, Dakar, Senegal, 16–20 November 2015
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mcintyre, Dr Cameron
• Authors: Mcintyre, C. P., Wacker, L., Haghipour, N., Blattmann, T. M., Fahrni, S., Usman, M., Eglinton, T. I., and Synal, H.-A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Radiocarbon
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0033-8222
• ISSN (Online): 1945-5755
• Published Online: 17 October 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona
• First Published: First published in Radiocarbon 59(3):893-903
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher