Stable Isotope Analysis of Gas components
At Isolab, we specialize in high-precision stable isotope analysis of individual gas components. Using compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) techniques, we separate gas mixtures into their individual components and measure the isotopic composition of each.
Sample Types
Stable isotopes can be determined for various gaseous compounds in a wide range of sample types, including:
- Mudgas
- Production gas
- Biogas
- Process gas
- Headspace gas
- Dissolved gas (via headspace)
- Synthetic (calibration) mixtures
Method
All gas measurements are performed using Continuous Flow Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (CF-IRMS), supported by five in-house systems with dedicated preparation units.
What We Measure
We offer isotopic measurements of the following elements:
- Carbon isotopes (¹³C/¹²C)
- Hydrogen isotopes (²H/¹H or D/H)
- Nitrogen isotopes (¹⁵N/¹⁴N)
- Oxygen isotopes (¹⁸O/¹⁶O)
Available Analyses
Compound |
Isotopes Measured |
Detection Limit |
| Methane (CH₄) | δ¹³C, δD | ~50 ppm (C), ~400 ppm (H) |
| Ethane–Pentane (C₂–C₅) | δ¹³C, δD | ~1 ppm (C), ~10 ppm (H) |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) | δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O | ~50–100 ppm |
| Nitrogen (N₂) | δ¹⁵N | ~0.5% |
| Hydrogen (H₂) | δD | ~400 ppm |
Accuracy: ±1‰ for hydrogen isotopes (δD) and ±0.1‰ for all other isotope measurements.
Gascomposition
Before we can measure the stable isotopes of gas samples, we have to know the concentration of each component. That’s why a gas composition analysis is mandatory before we can start isotopic analysis. For more information about our gas composition analysis, please visit this page.
Cryogenic Enrichment at No Extra Cost
To enhance sensitivity, we offer cryogenic enrichment using a cold trap to concentrate one or more components before isotopic analysis.
This allows for accurate isotope measurements of compounds present at low concentrations — without incurring extra costs, so customers are not surprised by unexpected fees.