Analyzing rapidly, precisely and semi-automatically lead isotopes on variable volumes of seawater (up to 1000 ml)

Zurbrick and co-authors present a relatively fast (2.5–6.5 hours), semi-automated system to extract lead (Pb) from seawater, with few chemicals yielding low blanks. They also demonstrate that subsequent Pb isotopic analyses are more precise using a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) than high resolution ICP-MS (HR ICP-MS).

With the preceding work of Conway and co-workers (Conway et al., 2013) demonstrating similar analytical performances for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd), the ability of GEOTRACES community to determine key isotopes in seawater is clearly improving.

13 Zurbrick

Figure: A diagram representing the offline Pb extraction apparatus; sample Pb is loaded on a column, which is subsequently flushed with column wash to reduce salts followed by elution of Pb for analysis. Click here to view the figure larger.

 

References:

Zurbrick, C. M., Gallon, C., & Flegal, A. R. (2013). A new method for stable lead isotope extraction from seawater. Analytica Chimica Acta, 800, 29–35. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2013.09.002. Click here to access the paper.

Conway, T. M., Rosenberg, A. D., Adkins, J. F., & John, S. G. (2013). A new method for precise determination of iron, zinc and cadmium stable isotope ratios in seawater by double-spike mass spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta, 793, 44–52. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2013.07.025. Click here to access the paper.

Latest highlights

Overlooked riverine contributions of dissolved neodymium and hafnium to the Amazon estuary and oceans

Xu and colleagues investigated the isotopic composition of dissolved neodymium and hafnium along the entire salinity gradient of the Amazon estuary.

Pulling back the veil on reversible scavenging of lead

This work further contains the role that reversible scavenging may play in the cycling of lead in the ocean, an ever-evolving global experiment where lead contamination can be tracked in real-time.

Extremely high radioactive levels in the manganese nodules

Volz and co-authors demonstrate that radioisotopes in the manganese nodules mostly exceed exempt activity levels…

The North Pacific Ocean, a key actor for the zinc oceanic cycle

Sieber and his colleagues lift the veil on some of the mechanisms that control the behavior of zinc in the Pacific Ocean, and more globally.

Rechercher