Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) means determination of isotope signatures at the molecular level (as opposed to their more usual measurement on bulk phases). Also known as isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, this is an analytical tool or a methodology based on the use of a stable isotope mass spectrometer (MS) as the real-time detector for a gas chromatograph (GC). The interface is a combustion and/or micro-reaction device which quantitatively converts individual compounds in the chromatographic effluent to gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen) which are amenable to continuous flow isotopic analysis. The interface also removes interfering compounds (e.g. solvents water) and regulates the helium carrier gas stream entering the mass spectrometer to maintain stable ion source and analyzer conditions. Commercial instruments are currently restricted to the analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes although experimental systems for the analysis...
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Summons, R.E. (1998). Compound-specific isotope analysis . In: Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4496-8_64
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4496-8_64
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