pyisotopomer: A Python package for obtaining intramolecular isotope
ratio differences from mass spectrometric analysis of nitrous oxide
isotopocules
Abstract
RATIONALE Obtaining nitrous oxide isotopocule measurements with isotope
ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) involves analyzing the ion current ratios
of the nitrous oxide parent ion (N2O+)
as well as those of the NO+ fragment ion. The data
analysis requires correcting for “scrambling” in the ion source,
whereby the NO+ fragment ion obtains the outer N atom
from the N2O+ molecule. While
descriptions exist for this correction, and interlaboratory
intercalibration efforts have been made, there has yet to be published a
package of code for implementing isotopomer calibrations. METHODS We
developed a user-friendly Python package (pyisotopomer) to determine two
coefficients (γ and κ) that describe scrambling in the
IRMS ion source, and then to use this calibration to obtain
intramolecular isotope deltas in N2O samples. RESULTS We
show that, with two reference materials distinct enough in their site
preference, γ and κ can be determined robustly and
accurately for a given IRMS. An additional third reference material is
needed to define the zero-point of the delta scale. We show that the
scrambling behavior of an IRMS can vary with time, necessitating regular
calibrations. Finally, we present an intercalibration between two IRMS
laboratories, using pyisotopomer to calculate γ and κ and
to obtain intramolecular N2O isotope deltas in lake
water unknowns. CONCLUSIONS Given these considerations, we discuss how
to use pyisotopomer to obtain high-quality N2O
isotopocule data from IRMS systems, including the use of appropriate
reference materials and frequency of calibration.