Author(s)

J. Y. Hwang¹, B. K. Kim², M. S. Kim², J. W. Choi², T. S. Kim¹, W. S. Lee³

¹Soil and Groundwater Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Environment Research Complex, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
²Environmental Measurement & Analysis Center, National Institute of Environmental Research, Environment Research Complex, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
³Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Task Force, National Institute of Environmental Research, Environment Research Complex, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

The isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) is an instrument that measures both of the elemental contents and isotope ratios of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur in environmental samples at the same time. In this study, we want to try to get two main goals; first, to make up for setting the analytical conditions such as accuracy and precision, second, to apply for comparing of the carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio of sediments in the abandoned mine located in middle province of Korea. For the first goal, a recently introduced IRMS was used to analyze CRM (certified reference materials), which helped to make up the analytical conditions of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. So, the accuracy and precision of isotope ratios and elemental contents were also assessed simultaneously, and also the results were very satisfactory. The analytical results of carbon reference materials (EMA-P2) showed an accuracy of -2.801 × 10‰ ± 0.01‰ (2σ) and a precision of 0.009‰ in the mass range from 0.008 μg - 0.162 μg. For nitrogen reference materials (EMA-P2), an accuracy of -1.632‰ ± 0.72‰ (2σ) was obtained in the mass range from 0.082 - 0.162 mg. These values of accuracy and precision are higher than those reported by other studies. For the second goal, carbon and nitrogen isotopes in river sediment near abandoned mines were analyzed based on the established analytical conditions. The result suggested that carbon isotope ratios ranged from -22.5‰ - -7.5‰ and nitrogen isotope ratios from -1.9‰ - 7.9‰. By comparing the isotope ratios and sampling sites of sediment, we know that the nitrogen isotope values in samples of entrance area of mine are greater than those of the farm house area, which is indicating the effects of organic materials. So, we could guess that the newly accumulated organic materials were much more in the farm house area than mine entrance area. And a result of this study, the accuracy and precision tests of IRMS using certified reference materials were very satisfactory and optimum analytical conditions were established well. And also, it was found that the applications of isotopic analysis for environmental samples by using the IRMS could be very useful for the studies on tracing pollution sources.

Stable Isotope, Carbon Isotope, Nitrogen Isotope, Precision, Accuracy

Hwang, J. , Kim, B. , Kim, M. , Choi, J. , Kim, T. and Lee, W. (2016) Evaluation of Accuracy and Precision of IRMS by Using Standard Materials and Applications. Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 5, 211-222. doi: 10.4236/jacen.2016.54022.