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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Automated Sample Multiplexing by using Combined Precursor Isotopic Labeling and Isobaric Tagging cPILOT
Published on: December 18, 2020
Combined ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotope analysis on small samples using a near-conventional elemental analyzer/isotope ratio
Reinhard Langel1, Jens Dyckmans
1Centre for Stable Isotope Research and Analysis, Büsgen Institute, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
Rationale:
A high sensitivity elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometer setup was developed to allow analysis of (13)C and (15)N isotopic composition on microgram amounts of C and N, respectively.
Methods:
Increased sensitivity of a conventional elemental analyzer equipped with a low blank autosampler was obtained by decreased carrier gas flow of 35 mL/min. The diameters of the oxidation and reduction reactors and water trap were reduced to 7.8, 7.8 and 4 mm i.d., respectively, to obtain sharp sample peaks in the mass spectrometer. To increase the lifetime of the reduction reactor, a 1:1 He/O2 mixture was used as oxidizing agent in the elemental analyzer.
Results:
Sample amounts of 0.6 µg N and 1 µg C were sufficient for accurate isotopic analysis with <1 ‰ standard error after blank correction. One major advantage of the setup is the easy switching between conventional EA and μEA as only consumable parts need to be exchanged.
Conclusions:
The proposed setup proved to be suitable to analyze minute amounts of C and N in one analytical run simultaneously.
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