Dual-Column GC system Measures Coupled N, C and S Stable Isotopes

In an article recently published in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, researchers developed an application to show that an N, C, and S measurement system allows a three-dimensional view of element dynamics in estuarine systems that are undergoing pollution inputs from upstream watersheds. Extension of these GC principles should allow coupled H, C, N, and S isotope measurements in future work. The coupled N and C measurements are possible because of a GC separation of N2 and CO2 gases produced in elemental analysis. Adding a second GC column allows additional measurement of sulfur from the same sample, so that combined N, C and S information is obtained routinely.

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