Rapid 14C Analysis of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Non-Saline Waters. Issue 3 (24th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lang, Susan Q; McIntyre, Cameron P; Bernasconi, Stefano M; Früh-Green, Gretchen L; Voss, Britta M; Eglinton, Timothy I; Wacker, Lukas
• Is Part Of: Radiocarbon. Volume 58:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 505
• Page End: 515
• Publication Date: 2016-06-24
• Subjects: dissolved organic carbon, -- method development, -- wet chemical oxidation, -- carbon-cycling; Radiocarbon dating -- Periodicals; 930.1028505
• DOI: 10.1017/RDC.2016.17
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-8222

Abstract

Abstract: The radiocarbon content of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in rivers, lakes, and other non-saline waters can provide valuable information on carbon cycling dynamics in the environment. DOC is typically prepared for 14 C analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) either by ultraviolet (UV) oxidation or by freeze-drying and sealed tube combustion. We present here a new method for the rapid analysis of 14 C of DOC using wet chemical oxidation (WCO) and automated headspace sampling of CO2 . The approach is an adaption of recently developed methods using aqueous persulfate oxidant to determine the δ 13 C of DOC in non-saline water samples and the 14 C content of volatile organic acids. One advantage of the current method over UV oxidation is higher throughput: 22 samples and 10 processing standards can be prepared in one day and analyzed in a second day, allowing a full suite of 14 C processing standards and blanks to be run in conjunction with samples. A second advantage is that there is less potential for cross-contamination between samples.