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www.atmos-meas-tech.net/3/1307/2010/
doi:10.5194/amt-3-1307-2010
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A new CF-IRMS system for quantifying stable isotopes of carbon monoxide from ice cores and small air samples
Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
Abstract. We present a new analysis technique for stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ18O) of atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) from ice core samples. The technique is an online cryogenic vacuum extraction followed by continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS); it can also be used with small air samples. The CO extraction system includes two multi-loop cryogenic cleanup traps, a chemical oxidant for oxidation to CO2, a cryogenic collection trap, a cryofocusing unit, gas chromatography purification, and subsequent injection into a Finnigan Delta Plus IRMS. Analytical precision of 0.2‰ (±1δ) for δ13C and 0.6‰ (±1δ) for δ18O can be obtained for 100 mL (STP) air samples with CO mixing ratios ranging from 60 ppbv to 140 ppbv (~268–625 pmol CO). Six South Pole ice core samples from depths ranging from 133 m to 177 m were processed for CO isotope analysis after wet extraction. To our knowledge, this is the first measurement of stable isotopes of CO in ice core air.
Final Revised Paper (PDF, 463 KB) Discussion Paper (AMTD)
Citation: Wang, Z. and Mak, J. E.: A new CF-IRMS system for quantifying stable isotopes of carbon monoxide from ice cores and small air samples, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 3, 1307-1317, doi:10.5194/amt-3-1307-2010, 2010. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
