title: Development and validation of an universal interface for compound-specific stable isotope analysis of chlorine (37Cl/35Cl) by GC-high-temperature conversion (HTC)-MS/IRMS.
abstract: A universal application of compound-specific isotope analysis of chlorine was thus far limited by the availability of suitable analysis techniques. In this study, gas chromatography in combination with a high-temperature conversion interface (GC-HTC), converting organic chlorine in the presence of H2 to gaseous HCl, was coupled to a dual-detection system, combining an ion trap mass spectrometer (MS) and isotope-ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). The combination of the MS/IRMS detection enabled a detailed characterization, optimization, and online monitoring of the high-temperature conversion process via ion trap MS as well as a simultaneous chlorine isotope analysis by the IRMS. Using GC-HTC-MS/IRMS, chlorine isotope analysis at optimized conversion conditions resulted in very accurate isotope values (δ(37)Cl(SMOC)) for measured reference material with known isotope composition, including chlorinated ethylene, chloromethane, hexachlorocyclohexane, and trichloroacetic acids methyl ester. Respective detection limits were determined to be <15 nmol Cl on column with achieved precision of <0.3‰.
authors: Department for Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ , Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Julian
authors: J
authors: Renpenning
authors: Kristina L
authors: KL
authors: Hitzfeld
authors: Tetyana
authors: T
authors: Gilevska
authors: Ivonne
authors: I
authors: Nijenhuis
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Gehre
authors: Hans-Hermann
authors: HH
authors: Richnow
mesh_terms: D002713:Chlorine / Q000032:analysis*; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis*; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D008737:Methyl Chloride / Q000032:analysis*; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005030:Ethylenes; D002713:Chlorine; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid; C036216:ethylene; D008737:Methyl Chloride