Isolation of Methane from Ambient Water and Preparation for Source-Diagnostic Natural Abundance Radiocarbon Analysis.

ABSTRACT: A key challenge in climate change research is apportioning the greenhouse gas methane (CH₄) between various natural and anthropogenic sources. Isotopic source fingerprinting of CH₄ releases, particularly with radiocarbon analysis, is a promising approach. Here, we establish an analytical protocol for preparing CH₄ from seawater and other aqueous matrices for high-precision natural abundance radiocarbon measurement. Methane is stripped from water in the optionally field-operated system (STRIPS), followed by shore-based purification and conversion to carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the CH₄ Isotope Preparation System (CHIPS) to allow Accelerator Mass Spectrometry analysis. The blank (±1σ) of the combined STRIPS and CHIPS is low (0.67 ± 0.12 μg C)

SUBMITTER: Brussee M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11541896 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature