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Updated: May 23, 2026

Fatty Acid 13C Isotopologue Profiling Provides Insight into Trophic Carbon Transfer and Lipid Metabolism of Invertebrate Consumers
Published on: April 17, 2018
Origin and fate of organic compounds in water: characterization by compound-specific stable isotope analysis
Torsten C Schmidt1, Maik A Jochmann
1Instrumental Analytical Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany. torsten.schmidt@uni-due.de
Abstract:
Within the past 15 years, compound-specific stable isotope analysis has continued to increase in popularity in the area of contaminant hydrology of organic molecules. In particular, in cases where concentration data alone are insufficient to elucidate environmental processes unequivocally, the isotope signature can provide additional unique information. Specifically, it can help answer questions about contaminant source apportionment, quantification of biotic and abiotic processes, and identification of transformation reactions on a mechanistic level. We review advances in laboratory and field investigations and exemplary applications in contaminant hydrology via stable isotope analysis. We also highlight future directions in the field.
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