Performing an Isotope Ratio Analysis

The following describes calculations that are done for an isotope ratio analysis.

Calculating the Mass Bias Correction

1. Mass bias correction factor for the numerator (of the isotope ratio)

Mass bias correction factor for the numerator =

(Abundance ratio of the numerator mass / (Total of the CPS counts of all points for the numerator mass in the standard data))

2. Mass bias correction factor for the denominator (of the isotope ratio)

Mass bias correction factor for the denominator =

(Abundance ratio of the denominator mass / (Total of the CPS counts of all points for the denominator mass in the standard data))

Calculating the Isotope Ratio

1. Calculate the isotope ratio from the replicate data obtained in one operation

First calculate the isotope ratio for each replicate data.

(1) Correct the mass bias for the numerator

Corrected numerator data =

(Total of the CPS counts of all points for the numerator mass of the sample) x (Mass bias correction factor for the numerator mass)

(2) Correct the mass bias for the denominator

Corrected denominator data =

(Total of the CPS counts of all points for the denominator mass of the sample) x (Mass bias correction factor for the denominator mass)

If you select "Total" for the denominator mass, apply the above correction to all isotopes, and calculate the total of the corrected values. For example, if there are three isotopes, calculate as follows.

Corrected "total" data =

(Total of the CPS counts of all points for the isotope 1 in the sample) x (Mass bias correction factor for the isotope 1)

+

(Total of the CPS counts of all points for the isotope 2 in the sample) x (Mass bias correction factor for the isotope 2)

+

(Total of the CPS counts of all points for the isotope 3 in the sample) x (Mass bias correction factor for the isotope 3)

(3) Calculate the isotope ratio

Isotope ratio = (Result of (1)) / (Result of (2))

2. Calculate the average and SD

From the isotope ratios of all replicate data calculated based on the Step 1, calculate the average and SD.