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A Continuous-Flow Gas Chromatography 14C Accelerator Mass Spectrometry System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Cameron P McIntyre ,
Ernst Galutschek ,
Mark L Roberts ,
Karl F von Reden ,
Ann P McNichol  and
William J Jenkins
Cameron P McIntyre*
Affiliation:
National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
Ernst Galutschek
Affiliation:
National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
Mark L Roberts
Affiliation:
National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
Karl F von Reden
Affiliation:
National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
Ann P McNichol
Affiliation:
National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
William J Jenkins
Affiliation:
National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
*
Corresponding author. Email: cmcintyre@whoi.edu
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Abstract

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Gas-accepting ion sources for radiocarbon accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) have permitted the direct analysis of CO2 gas, eliminating the need to graphitize samples. As a result, a variety of analytical instruments can be interfaced to an AMS system, processing time is decreased, and smaller samples can be analyzed (albeit with lower precision). We have coupled a gas chromatograph to a compact 14C AMS system fitted with a microwave ion source for real-time compound-specific 14C analysis. As an initial test of the system, we have analyzed a sample of fatty acid methyl esters and biodiesel. Peak shape and memory was better then existing systems fitted with a hybrid ion source while precision was comparable. 14C/12C ratios of individual components at natural abundance levels were consistent with those determined by conventional methods. Continuing refinements to the ion source are expected to improve the performance and scope of the instrument.

Type
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 52 , Issue 2: 20th Int. Radiocarbon Conference Proceedings , 2010 , pp. 295 - 300
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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