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      On the interference of Kr during carbon isotope analysis of methane using continuous-flow combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry

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      General Information:

      Citation:
      Schmitt, J. , Seth, B. , Bock, M. , van der Veen, C. , Möller, L. , Sapart, C. J. , Prokopiou, M. , Sowers, T. , Röckmann, T. and Fischer, H. (2013): On the interference of Kr during carbon isotope analysis of methane using continuous-flow combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry , Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 6 (5), pp. 1425-1445 . doi: 10.5194/amt-6-1425-2013
      Cite this page as:
      hdl:10013/epic.42660
      DOI:
      https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-6-1425-2013
      Official URL:
      http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/6/1425/2013/amt-6-1425-2013.html
      Contact Email:
      lars.moeller@awi.de
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      Cite this document as:
      hdl:10013/epic.42660.d001
      Abstract:

      Stable carbon isotope analysis of methane (δ13C of CH4) on atmospheric samples is one key method to constrain the current and past atmospheric CH4 budget. A frequently applied measurement technique is gas chromatography (GC) isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) coupled to a combustion-preconcentration unit. This report shows that the atmospheric trace gas krypton (Kr) can severely interfere during the mass spectrometric measurement, leading to significant biases in δ13C of CH4, if krypton is not sufficiently separated during the analysis. According to our experiments, the krypton interference is likely composed of two individual effects, with the lateral tailing of the doubly charged 86Kr peak affecting the neighbouring m/z 44 and partially the m/z 45 Faraday cups. Additionally, a broad signal affecting m/z 45 and especially m/z 46 is assumed to result from scattered ions of singly charged krypton. The introduced bias in the measured isotope ratios is dependent on the chromatographic separation, the krypton-to-CH4 mixing ratio in the sample, the focusing of the mass spectrometer as well as the detector configuration and can amount to up to several per mil in δ13C. Apart from technical solutions to avoid this interference, we present correction routines to a posteriori remove the bias.

      Further Details:

      Item Type:
      Article
      Authors:
      Schmitt, J. ; Seth, B. ; Bock, M. ; van der Veen, C. ; Möller, L. ; Sapart, C. J. ; Prokopiou, M. ; Sowers, T. ; Röckmann, T. ; Fischer, H.
      Divisions:
      AWI Organizations > Geosciences > Glaciology
      Primary Division:
      Organizations > AWI Organizations > Geosciences > Glaciology
      Programs:
      Helmholtz Research Programs > PACES I (2009-2013) > TOPIC 3: Lessons from the Past > WP 3.1: Past Polar Climate and inter-hemispheric Coupling
      Primary Topic:
      Helmholtz Programs > Helmholtz Research Programs > PACES I (2009-2013) > TOPIC 3: Lessons from the Past > WP 3.1: Past Polar Climate and inter-hemispheric Coupling
      Eprint ID:
      34404
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      und Meeresforschung
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