Isotope Analytical Capabilities
BOC Sciences stands at the forefront of scientific innovation, offering cutting-edge solutions in chemical and biological research. With over two decades of expertise, BOC Sciences has established itself as a leading provider of stable isotopes, custom services and stable isotopes analysis services globally. We have many years of industry experience, comprehensive analysis capabilities, complete instruments and a strong team to provide isotope analysis services. Our behavior is efficient, the method is scientific, the data is rigorous, the service is efficient, and we can answer industry questions for customers.
The Importance of Stable Isotope Analysis
The isotopic (stable and radioactive) analysis is a fundamental component of modern science, bringing important contributions about biological, chemical or environmental changes. Stable isotopic compositions in natural substances help researchers track intricate pathways and mechanisms that define biological systems. Applying these data to ecological studies, medical sciences for use in drug metabolism studies, ecosystem food web dynamics as well as those relevant the effect of climate change are critical.
BOC Sciences' Stable Isotope Analysis Capabilities
BOC Sciences excels in the provision of high-quality stable isotopes essential for precise and reliable isotopic analysis. Our comprehensive portfolio includes isotopes of Carbon-13, Nitrogen-15, Deuterium and Oxygen-18, among others, meticulously synthesized to exacting purity standards. These isotopes serve as fundamental tools for studying metabolic processes, tracing biochemical pathways, and elucidating environmental interactions. Firstly, as a trusted supplier, BOC Sciences ensures that each stable isotope meets stringent quality control measures, guaranteeing purity and isotopic enrichment essential for accurate scientific investigations. Our commitment to excellence extends to custom synthesis capabilities, where we tailor isotopic compositions to meet specific research requirements across diverse scientific disciplines.
Advanced Isotope Analysis Facilities
BOC Sciences contains the most cutting-edge analytical facilities, including leading mass spectrometry and chromatography technologies. These facilities offer validated protocols to measure isotopic ratios quantitatively and with precision in difficult sample matrices such as biological tissues, environmental samples or pharmaceutical formulations. They give researchers new analytical tools that allow for unprecedentedly high levels of precision and accuracy in isotopic studies.
Stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry is the study of natural and synthetic samples based on isotope ratios. The isotopic ratios of a sample will vary due to its source and origin and the processes that may occur during the life of that material. Stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry is widely used in different research fields such as geology, ecology, environment, medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, atmospheric science, material science, and food. We provide a comprehensive isotope ratio mass spectrometry solution, including hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur isotope ratio mass spectrometry, to meet customer analysis needs.
Isotope Mass Spectrometry
Isotopic mass spectrometry determines the elemental composition of molecules based on high-resolution mass spectra with resolved isotopic peaks. Isotopic mass spectrometry is widely used in agriculture, medicine, environmental science, oceanography, petroleum, chemical industry, metallurgy, etc. The advanced instrumentation portfolio includes a small low-resolution isotopic mass spectrometer for isotopic analysis of light elements (hydrogen, carbon, sulfur) and a large-scale isotopic mass spectrometer with higher resolution for isotopic analysis of heavy elements (uranium, plutonium, lead).
Isotope Elemental Analysis
Elemental analysis techniques can simultaneously or individually analyze several elements in a sample. Our isotope element analysis platform is mainly for chemical composition analysis and isotope analysis of samples such as rock ore, plants, soil, etc., to realize the element determination of samples. We usually combine elemental analysis with isotopic mass spectrometry to achieve the determination of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in samples such as plants and soil. Cooperate with standard samples and methods, while performing isotope determination, obtain the content of the response element of the sample.
Isotope Chromatography
Isotope chromatography involves general methods of research experiments and analysis in chemistry, food, medicine, geology, etc. Because isotopes have the same chemical properties, their analysis can only be achieved by exploiting small differences in their physical properties. Gas chromatography and liquid chromatography can be used for isotope separation and analysis of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, etc.
The stable isotope dilution method can use stable isotope-labeled compounds as internal standards to quantitatively determine the content of non-labeled compounds, which improves the accuracy of the determination results and the stability of the analysis method. This method has the advantages of high sensitivity, no need for quantitative separation of the analyte, effective offset of matrix influence and pretreatment operation loss, etc., and is suitable for the analysis of samples with complex components and difficult separation. This method is widely used in quantitative analysis of biomarkers, drugs and their metabolites.
The content calculation formula of isotope dilution method.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
NMR is an important method for stable isotope analysis. NMR can detect isotopes on different groups in organic samples. According to the peak height of the spectrum, the content of the isotope can also be determined.
Spectroscopy
Deuterium content in hydrogen compounds can be determined by using the spectral line shift caused by isotope substitution in infrared vibrational spectroscopy. Atomic absorption, emission spectroscopy, etc. can be used for nitrogen isotope analysis.
Applications of Stable Isotope Analysis
Environmental Science and Ecology
- Tracing Sources: By analyzing stable isotope ratios such as δ13C and δ15N in substances from different origins, the sources of pollutants, aerosols, or nutrients can be traced, evaluating environmental impacts and pollutant transport pathways.
- Understanding Ecosystem Processes: In ecosystems like wetlands, forests, and oceans, stable isotopes serve as natural tracers, aiding in the understanding of basic ecological processes such as carbon and nitrogen cycles, and the impacts of global change on these processes.
- Climate Change Research: Analyzing stable isotopic compositions in paleoclimate records, such as organic matter in ice cores or sediments, helps reconstruct past climate changes.
Medicine and Biochemistry
- Metabolic Studies: Essential for drug metabolism research, pharmacokinetics, and evaluating drug efficacy and safety. Injecting labeled compounds with stable isotopes like 13C and 15N into animal models non-invasively tracks metabolic pathways and reaction rates, crucial for disease diagnosis and drug assessment.
- Nutrient and Diet Analysis: In anthropology and animal ecology, stable isotope ratios help reconstruct ancient human diets and animal feeding patterns.
Geology and Mineral Resources
- Diagenesis Studies: Stable isotope analysis (e.g., Sr, O, H) contributes to understanding the formation conditions of rocks and minerals, crustal evolution processes, and genesis of mineral deposits.
- Oil and Gas Exploration: In petroleum geology, stable isotope analysis identifies petroleum source rocks, assesses maturity, and traces hydrocarbon migration pathways.
Agriculture and Food Safety
Food Authenticity and Origin Verification: Analyzing stable isotope ratios in food determines if it originates from claimed production regions, ensuring food quality and preventing fraud.
As a powerful tool, stable isotope analysis plays an indispensable role in scientific research and practical applications due to its non-destructive, high sensitivity and specificity, and has far-reaching significance in promoting interdisciplinary development and solving practical problems.
Why Choose BOC Sciences?
BOC Sciences distinguishes itself through a combination of scientific expertise, technological innovation, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Key advantages include:
- Custom Synthesis Expertise: Tailored synthesis of stable isotopes to meet specific project requirements.
- Rigorous Quality Control: Stringent quality assurance processes to ensure purity and isotopic enrichment.
- Timely Delivery: Efficient logistics and supply chain management for prompt delivery worldwide.
- Collaborative Partnerships: Engaging with researchers and institutions globally to advance scientific knowledge and applications.
Case Study
Application of Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis to Assess Pesticide Behavior in Agricultural Systems
In this case study, researchers used compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA), a combination of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS), to investigate CYN and chloronitrile (CHL) pesticides in agricultural Settings. They applied 500 mg/kg CHL and 250 mg/kg CYN, respectively, to potting soil where lettuce was grown, and tracked carbon isotopes in soil and plant samples using high performance liquid chromatography over 45 days. The results showed that the isotope difference of pesticides before and after application was very small (<1.0‰), and the change amplitude with time was small, especially CHL. This study highlights the effectiveness of CSIA in understanding the dynamics of pesticides in agriculture, providing insights into environmental impacts, and guiding sustainable agricultural practices.
FAQ
1. What is the isotope ratio mass spectrometry?
Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) is a high-precision analytical technique used to measure the isotope abundance ratio, or isotope ratio, of specific elements in a sample. This technology is widely used in earth science, environmental science, biology, medicine, food science and forensic science.
2. What is the isotopic analysis?
Isotope analysis is a scientific method of analysis that focuses on measuring and studying the isotopic composition of elements and their relative proportions. Isotopes are atomic forms that have the same atomic number (i.e. the same number of protons) but different numbers of neutrons, which results in their different mass numbers. Despite their nearly identical chemistry, they may behave differently during physical and biological processes due to subtle differences in mass. Isotope analysis is widely used in geology, archaeology, environmental science, biology, medicine, forensic science, and nuclear science.
3. What is NMR and how does it work?
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a physical phenomenon based on the behavior of atomic nuclei in an external magnetic field. It is a non-destructive analytical technique and an important method for studying the molecular structure, conformation and configuration of chemical substances, and is an indispensable tool in the fields of physics, biology, medicine and material science. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, according to the different dimensions of the spectrum, is divided into one-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, and according to the different types of atomic nuclei of the measurement object is divided into hydrogen, carbon, fluorine, nitrogen and phosphorus spectra, and so on.
4. What are the uses of isotope analysis?
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a technique used to study the atomic and molecular structure of compounds. It works by placing a sample in a strong magnetic field and exposing it to radiofrequency pulses. These pulses cause nuclei (specifically those of hydrogen, carbon, and other atoms) to resonate or absorb energy, which is detected and analyzed to provide detailed information about the chemical environment, connectivity, and dynamics of molecules. NMR is widely used in chemistry, biochemistry, and medicine for its ability to non-destructively analyze samples in solution or solid state, offering insights into molecular structure, interactions, and reactions.
5. What are isotope analysis techniques?
Isotope analysis techniques include mass spectrometry, which measures isotopic ratios based on mass-to-charge ratios of ions; nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, which detects isotopic shifts in molecular structures; and other methods like stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) and radiometric dating, which use isotopic signatures to date geological samples or trace biological processes. These techniques provide insights into various fields, from geosciences and archaeology to environmental science and biological research.
