A NOVEL LC-IRMS INTERFACE FOR FLEXIBLE COMPOUND-SPECIFIC STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS

In aqueous samples, compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) plays an important role in several research areas (forensics, environmental, doping, etc) and has historically been limited to measurement of δ¹³C. No direct method (without sample preparation) for stable nitrogen isotope analysis (δ¹⁵N SIA) of non-volatile compounds has been successful up to this point. The development of a novel HPLC/IRMS interface based on high-temperature combustion (HTC) for both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N CSIA and its proof of principle are described in this presentation. This opens up a world of possibilities in studying polar, non-volatile or thermolabile organic compounds that contain nitrogen.