S. K. Lengger, K. W. R. Taylor, Y. Weber, S. K. Kopf, R. Berstan, M. Seed, I. D. Bull, J-P Mayser, W. D. Leavitt, J. Blewett, A. Abrahim, A. Pearson, R. D. Pancost

Elementar

The hydrogen isotopic composition (δ2H) of lipid “biomarker” compounds (molecules synthesized by and traceable to living organisms) have long been of interest to biogeochemists, with applications ranging from the investigation of food authenticity, to the reconstruction of ancient climate and environment. The preferred  method of stable isotope analysis of such lipids employs gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), which effectively limits applications to those which measure compounds of relatively low molecular weight and polarity (i.e. compounds which elute from a typical capillary GC column at c. 320-350°C). As such, only very few compounds of molecular weight > c. 500 g/mol have been successfully analyzed intact by GC-IRMS to determine δ2H. However, the hydrogen isotopic composition of larger and/or polar compounds can be of significant interest.