Technique for High-Precision Analysis of Triple Oxygen Isotope Ratios in Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

Since the discovery of mass-independent isotope effects in stratospheric and tropospheric gases, the analysis of triple oxygen isotope abundance in carbon dioxide gained in importance. However, precise triple oxygen isotope determination in carbon dioxide is a challenging task due to mass-interference of (17)O and (13)C variations. Here, we present a novel analytical technique that allows us to determine slight deviations of CO(2) from the terrestrial fractionation line [TFL]. Our approach is based on isotopic equilibration between CO(2) gas and CeO(2) powder at 685 degrees C and subsequent mass spectrometric analysis of ceria powder by infrared-laser fluorination. We found that beta(CO2-CeO2), the exponent in the relation alpha(17/16) = (alpha(18/16))(beta), amounts to 0.5240 +/- 0.0011 at 685 degrees C. The oxygen isotope anomaly of CO(2) (Delta(17)O) can be determined for a single analysis of CeO(2) with a precision of +/-0.05 per thousand (1sigma). Our CO(2)-CeO(2) equilibration procedure is performed with an excess of CO(2) so that one analysis of Delta(17)O on CO(2) requires at least 3.5 mmol of CO(2) gas. Our new technique allows accurate and precise determination of Delta(17)O in CO(2) and opens up a new field for investigating triple oxygen isotope abundance in various types of natural CO(2).