Pioneering precision in carbon isotope measurement
In honour of National Periodic Table Day, we are proud to share an outstanding advancement in the field of carbon isotope measurement. Work from the Inorganic Analysis team at NML at LGC has been recognised by the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW) as the 'best measurement' of the 13C/12C isotope ratio in Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB).
Carbon, the fourth most abundant element in the universe, is present in all known life forms and makes up about 18.5% of the human body by mass. Carbon contains two stable isotopes, known as 12C and 13C. The relative abundance of these isotope can help us understand the origin of the carbon sample or what processes it has been through. . In almost all cases, the carbon isotope ratio of a sample is measured relative to VPDB.
Until recently, the recommended value of the 13C/12C isotope ratio in VPDB has remained unchanged since 1998. However, recent improvement in measurement uncertainty have led the CIAAW to revise this value. The CIAAW now recommends a value of R(13C/12C, VPDB) = 0.011 113 ± 0.000 022 and has recognised work carried out by Philip Dunn, Principal Scientist and Dmitriy Malinovskiy, Science Leader at the NML at LGC as the best mass spectrometry measurement of the isotopic composition of carbon.
As global leaders in chemical and biological metrology, we relentlessly pursue accuracy and precision in our mass spectrometry methods, striving to set new benchmarks in the measurement community. The CIAAW’s recognition of our work as the best mass spectrometric measurement of the isotopic composition of carbon from a single terrestrial sample is a testament to the expertise of our scientists and our commitment to scientific growth and innovation.
What better way to celebrate National Periodic Table Day than with the best measurement of carbon isotopic ratio. We are honoured to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of carbon isotope measurement.
Read more about our ‘best measurement’ in this article.
