Compound-specific isotope analysis

Abstract

Compound-specific isotope analysis has broad utilities in tracing sources and revealing the biogeochemical processes that involves isotopic fractionation. The field has greatly expanded from measuring carbon isotopes of GC-amendable compounds to employing a variety of approaches to separate and purify compounds, including those that cannot be separated by the traditional GC, for isotope measurements of C, N, H, O, S, and other light elements. Position-specific isotope analysis is also being explored that adds a whole new dimension to CSIA. CSIA is widely applied in organic geochemistry, biogeochemistry, geobiology, paleoclimatology, forensic geoscience, and petroleum science and technology.