Stable Isotopic Analysis Using Mass Spectrometry and Laser Based Techniques: A Review

Stable isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen are widely used in hydrology, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, food and drug authentication, forensic science, geochemistry, geology, ecology, oceanography, and paleoclimatology. In water cycle processes, it is used in getting the information on groundwater circulation, discharge components in rivers, lake hydrology, sources of moisture in precipitation, recycling and transport of atmospheric moisture, glaciology at local, regional and continental scales. The isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) invented in 1940s led to the measurement of isotopes of water. The technological advancement led to the development of new range of IRMS that functions as programed operation provides high throughput with high precision and accuracy and uses microliters of sample analysis. However, their high cost and required operational skills have a wider limited use of these systems and applications of isotopes in hydrological science by researchers in general. Over the last one decade, less expensive and easy-to-operate spectroscopic methods for isotope analysis using lasers have emerged. The present paper provides insight into this advancement along with performance of these systems.