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Atmospheric nitrogen is a reliable standard for natural 15N abundance measurements

Nature volume 303, pages 685–687 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Research based on 15N stable isotope variations in natural compounds is expanding in scientific fields such as biogeochemistry (isotope fractionation effects measurements1–7), metabolic studies8,9, hydrology (research of NO3− pollution origin in aquifers10–14), agronomy (estimate of N2 symbiotic fixation by legumes15–17) and oceanography (determination of the source of sedimentary nitrogen18–21). However, intercomparison of results obtained in different laboratories is a problem due to the lack of intercalibrated standards. Atmospheric nitrogen has been chosen by many investigators as a standard20,22,23 and I present here a simple method for the preparation of atmospheric N2 as a standard for δ15N expression with excellent reproducibility. The results indicate a wide homogeneity in isotopic composition of atmospheric nitrogen which appears to be a reliable standard for 15N natural abundance measurements.

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  1. Biogéochimie des Isotopes Stables, Département de Géologie Dynamique T26, Université P. M. Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75230, Paris, cedex 05, France

    André Mariotti

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Mariotti, A. Atmospheric nitrogen is a reliable standard for natural 15N abundance measurements. Nature 303, 685–687 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/303685a0

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