IRMS analysis

What is IRMS analysis used for?

IRMS is used to measure the ratio of different elemental isotopes in a sample. Its ability to identify natural isotopic variations makes IRMS useful in studying the geographical origin of food products and textiles. The isotope composition of materials and substances differs based on environmental factors, which means that isotope-ratio analysis can be used to identify counterfeit products and products originating from problematic geographic regions. This includes, for example, determining whether the botanical and geographic origins of honey are authentic or whether textiles originate from areas where the use of forced labor is widespread.

How does isotope fingerprinting with IRMS work?

IRMS can be used to establish the so-called isotope fingerprint of a product by identifying the ratio of specific isotopes (atoms with an equal number of protons but a different number of neutrons) that the product contains. IRMS generally focuses on a selection of light-stable isotopes, meaning non-radioactive isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen. By comparing the isotope fingerprint of the sample to a reference library, it is possible to determine whether the product's origin matches what the supplier claims.

Sample requirements and preparation

Samples analyzed through IRMS are typically organic solids or liquids that contain different isotopes of C, N, H, O, and/or S. Some examples include water, textile fibers, sediment, and various food and beverage samples, like wine, honey, dairy products, fruit, and vegetables. Typical sample preparation steps include drying and homogenization of the sample material, after which a suitable amount is weighed for analysis.

Advantages and limitations of IRMS

IRMS offers a way of measuring isotopic variations with extremely high levels of accuracy. It can be used to detect isotope values of lighter elements with no issues, making it instrumental in the analysis of organic and natural samples. Only a small amount of sample matter is required to achieve consistently accurate results.

Like all mass spectrometry techniques, IRMS is a destructive method that ionizes and destroys the sample, which cannot be recovered. Some heavy metal isotopes can be particularly difficult to ionize, and therefore might not be compatible with a standard IRMS setup. Often another method, such as thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), is used for analyzing heavier isotopes. Similarly, the analysis of radioactive isotopes for radiocarbon dating is generally performed using another method, such as accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS).

Need an isotope analysis?

Measurlabs offers high-quality stable isotope analysis services with IRMS for industry and research. Please contact our experts using the form below or at info@measurlabs.com and describe the goal of your project and the samples you wish to analyze. We will get back to you within one business day.