Research Article

Novel silver-tubing method for quantitative introduction of water into high-temperature conversion systems for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic measurements

  1. Haiping Qi1,*,
  2. Manfred Gröning2,
  3. Tyler B. Coplen1,†,
  4. Bryan Buck1,†,
  5. Stanley J. Mroczkowski1,†,
  6. Willi A. Brand3,
  7. Heike Geilmann3,
  8. Matthias Gehre4

Article first published online: 2 JUN 2010

DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4559

Issue

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry

Volume 24, Issue 13, pages 1821–1827, 15 July 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Qi, H., Gröning, M., Coplen, T. B., Buck, B., Mroczkowski, S. J., Brand, W. A., Geilmann, H. and Gehre, M. (2010), Novel silver-tubing method for quantitative introduction of water into high-temperature conversion systems for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic measurements. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 24: 1821–1827. doi: 10.1002/rcm.4559

Author Information

  1. 1

    USGS, U.S. Geological Survey, 431 National Center, Reston, Virginia, 20192, USA

  2. 2

    IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency, Isotope Hydrology Laboratory, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

  3. 3

    MPI-BGC, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Beutenberg Campus, P.O. Box 100164, 07701 Jena, Germany

  4. 4

    UFZ, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Laboratory for Stable Isotopes, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany

  1. †

    The contributions of T. B. Coplen, B. Buck, and S. J. Mroczkowski to this article were prepared as part of their official duties as United States Federal Government employees.

*U.S. Geological Survey, 431 National Center, Reston, VA 20192, USA.

  1. †

    The contributions of T. B. Coplen, B. Buck, and S. J. Mroczkowski to this article were prepared as part of their official duties as United States Federal Government employees.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 JUN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 2 JUN 2010
  3. Manuscript Revised: 26 MAR 2010
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 26 MAR 2010
  5. Manuscript Received: 11 JAN 2010

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (302K)

Abstract

A new method to seal water in silver tubes for use in a TC/EA (thermal conversion/elemental analyzer) reduction unit using a semi-automated sealing apparatus can yield reproducibilities (1 standard deviation) of δ2H and δ18O measurements of 1.0‰ and 0.06‰, respectively. These silver tubes containing reference waters may be preferred for the calibration of H- and O-bearing materials analyzed with a TC/EA reduction unit. The new sealing apparatus employs a computer-controlled stepping motor to produce silver tubes identical in length. The reproducibility of the mass of water sealed in tubes (in a range of 200–400 µg) can be as good as 1%. Approximately 99% of the sealed silver tubes are satisfactory (leak free). Although silver tubes sealed with reference waters are robust and can be shaken or heated to 110°C with no loss of integrity, they should not be frozen because the expansion during the phase transition of water to ice will break the cold seals and all the water will be lost. The tubes should be shipped in insulated containers.

This new method eliminates air inclusions and isotopic fractionation of water associated with the loading of water into capsules using a syringe. The method is also more than an order of magnitude faster than preparing water samples in ordinary Ag capsules. Nevertheless, some laboratories may prefer loading water into silver capsules because expensive equipment is not needed, but users of this method are cautioned to apply the necessary corrections for evaporation, back exchange with laboratory atmospheric moisture, and blanks. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (302K)