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Isotopocule analysis of biologically produced nitrous oxide in various environments
Author(s) -
Toyoda Sakae,
Yoshida Naohiro,
Koba Keisuke
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
mass spectrometry reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1098-2787
pISSN - 0277-7037
DOI - 10.1002/mas.21459
Subject(s) - chemistry , nitrous oxide , environmental chemistry , isotope analysis , mass spectrometry , trace gas , atmosphere (unit) , ozone depletion , isotope , ozone , soil water , mass spectrum , organic chemistry , ecology , meteorology , chromatography , quantum mechanics , physics , biology
Natural abundance ratios of isotopocules, molecules that have the same chemical constitution and configuration, but that only differ in isotope substitution, retain a record of a compound's origin and reactions. A method to measure isotopocule ratios of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) has been established by using mass analysis of molecular ions and fragment ions. The method has been applied widely to environmental samples from the atmosphere, ocean, fresh water, soils, and laboratory‐simulation experiments. Results show that isotopocule ratios, particularly the 15 N‐site preference (difference between isotopocule ratios 14 N 15 N 16 O/ 14 N 14 N 16 O and 15 N 14 N 16 O/ 14 N 14 N 16 O), have a wide range that depends on their production and consumption processes. Observational and laboratory studies of N 2 O related to biological processes are reviewed and discussed to elucidate complex material cycles of this trace gas, which causes global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 36:135–160, 2017