Fractionation in position-specific isotope composition during vaporization of environmental pollutants measured with isotope ratio monitoring by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Julien, Maxime; Parinet, Julien; Nun, Pierrick; Bayle, Kevin; Höhener, Patrick; Robins, Richard J.; Remaud, Gérald S.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 205(2015)
• Page Start: 299
• Page End: 306
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Position-specific isotope analysis -- Isotope ratio monitoring by 13C NMR spectrometry -- Methyl tert-butylether -- Trichloroethene -- Vaporization; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.05.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Isotopic fractionation of pollutants in terrestrial or aqueous environments is a well-recognized means by which to track different processes during remediation. As a complement to the common practice of measuring the change in isotope ratio for the whole molecule using isotope ratio monitoring by mass spectrometry (irm-MS), position-specific isotope analysis (PSIA) can provide further information that can be exploited to investigate source and remediation of soil and water pollutants. Position-specific fractionation originates from either degradative or partitioning processes. We show that isotope ratio monitoring by 13 C NMR (irm- 13 C NMR) spectrometry can be effectively applied to methyl tert -butylether, toluene, ethanol and trichloroethene to obtain this position-specific data for partitioning. It is found that each compound exhibits characteristic position-specific isotope fractionation patterns, and that these are modulated by the type of evaporative process occurring. Such data should help refine models of how remediation is taking place, hence back-tracking to identify pollutant sources. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Position-Specific Isotope Analysis (PSIA) by 13 C NMR spectrometry. PSIA on isotope fractionation during several vaporization processes. PSIA for isotope profiling in environment pollutants. Intramolecular 13 C reveal normal and inverse effects, bulk values being unchanged. Abstract : PSIA in pollutants during evaporation processes shows more detailed information for discerning the nature of the process involved than does bulk isotope measurements.