Hydropyrolysis as a preparative method for the compound-specific carbon isotope analysis of fatty acids.
Compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry is an effective and risk-free means of investigating fatty acid metabolism. Straightforward analysis, however, leads to poor chromatographic resolution, while derivatization adds carbon thereby corrupting the starting stable isotopic composition. Hydropyrolysis is a new approach which defunctionalizes fatty acids to yield the corresponding n-alkanes thus retaining the carbon skeleton intact and improving chromatography, allowing the faithful measurement of carbon isotope ratios.
Sephton
Mark A
MA
Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR), Earth Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. m.a.sephton@imperial.ac.uk
Meredith
Will
W
Sun
Cheng-Gong
CG
Snape
Colin E
CE
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005227:Fatty Acids; D002244:Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen