Research news on carbon isotope analysis

Carbon isotope analysis is an analytical method that quantifies the relative abundance of stable carbon isotopes, primarily ¹²C and ¹³C, in a sample to infer biogeochemical processes, sources, and pathways of carbon. Typically using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) or, less commonly, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, the technique measures δ¹³C values relative to international standards (e.g., VPDB). Sample preparation may involve combustion or decarbonation to isolate CO₂, followed by purification and introduction into the instrument. Carbon isotope analysis is widely applied in ecology, geochemistry, climate reconstruction, and forensic science to distinguish between carbon pools, metabolic pathways, and provenance.