Determination of the isotopic composition of ammonium-nitrogen at the natural abundance level from estuarine waters
Abstract
Abstract
A method was developed to measure the stable nitrogen isotope ratio of dissolved ammonium (NH4+) at the natural abundance level from estuarine waters. This method employed rapid steam distillation with collection of ammonium on zeolite via ion-exchange. The steam distillation step had a recovery of 103±5%; subsequent exchange of the ammonium on zeolite had a yield of 96.4±1.6%. The zeolite with exchanged ammonium was converted to N2 in quartz tubes at 910°C with CuO and Cu and the isotopic composition of the gas was measured in an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. When analyzing 200 μg of N the accuracy using isotopic standards was within 4% of the true ratio, with an overall precision of ±0.5%. A benefit of this method is that samples can be distilled and preserved onboard ship, thereby minimizing storage artifacts. This method was used in a seasonal study of the isotopic composition of dissolved ammonium from the Delaware Estuary.
Department
School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering
Publication Date
7-1989
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal Title
Marine Chemistry
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/0304-4203(89)90040-6
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
David J Velinsky, J.R Pennock, J.H Sharp, L.A Cifuentes, Marilyn L Fogel, Determination of the isotopic composition of ammonium-nitrogen at the natural abundance level from estuarine waters, Marine Chemistry, Volume 26, Issue 4, July 1989, Pages 351-361, ISSN 0304-4203, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-4203(89)90040-6.