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Stable-isotope Raman microspectroscopy for the analysis of soil organic matter

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry volume 410, pages 923–931 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

We examined the potential of stable-isotope Raman microspectroscopy (SIRM) for the evaluation of differently enriched 13C-labeled humic acids as model substances for soil organic matter (SOM). The SOM itself can be linked to the soil water holding capacity. Therefore, artificial humic acids (HA) with known isotopic compositions were synthesized and analyzed by means of SIRM. By performing a pregraphitization, a suitable analysis method was developed to cope with the high fluorescence background. Results were verified against isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The limit of quantification was 2.1 × 10−1 13C/C tot for the total region and 3.2 × 10−2 13C/C tot for a linear correlation up to 0.25 13C/C tot. Complementary nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) analysis indicated small-scale heterogeneity within the dry sample material, even though—owing to sample topography and occurring matrix effects—obtained values deviated in magnitude from those of IRMS and SIRM. Our study shows that SIRM is well-suited for the analysis of stable isotope-labeled HA. This method requires no specific sample preparation and can provide information with a spatial resolution in the micrometer range.

Analysis of the isotopic composition of humic acids by Raman microspectroscopy in combination with isotope ratio mass spectrometry and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support by German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, project IV 110/2-1) and the International Graduate School of Science and Engineering (IGSSE) of the Technical University of Munich is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Hydrochemistry, Chair for Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 17, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Alexandra C. Wiesheu, Martin Elsner, Reinhard Niessner & Natalia P. Ivleva

  2. Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Ramona Brejcha & Martin Elsner

  3. Chair of Soil Science, Technical University of Munich, Emil-Ramann-Strasse 2, 85354, Freising, Germany

    Carsten W. Mueller & Ingrid Kögel-Knabner

Authors
  1. Alexandra C. Wiesheu
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  2. Ramona Brejcha
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  3. Carsten W. Mueller
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  4. Ingrid Kögel-Knabner
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  5. Martin Elsner
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  6. Reinhard Niessner
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  7. Natalia P. Ivleva
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Correspondence to Natalia P. Ivleva.

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Published in the topical collection celebrating ABCs 16th Anniversary.

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Wiesheu, A.C., Brejcha, R., Mueller, C.W. et al. Stable-isotope Raman microspectroscopy for the analysis of soil organic matter. Anal Bioanal Chem 410, 923–931 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0543-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0543-z

Keywords

  • Raman microspectroscopy
  • Stable isotopes
  • Humic acids
  • Soil organic matter