Atoms of the same chemical element called isotopes have variable numbers of neutrons in their nuclei but the same number of protons. Isotopes of the same element have slightly varying masses because neutrons have mass.
Measuring the ratios of stable isotopes (e.g., hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and sulfur) plays an important role in ecological and biological studies. Oxygen isotope ratios, for instance, have been utilized by other researchers to recreate past air temperatures, making them a crucial tool for paleoclimatology.
Alfa Chemistry relies on a well-established technology platform and a professional R&D team with global experimental and analytical capabilities. We can provide you with rigorous stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) testing services and are committed to providing our customers with accurate and rapid analyses to solve any research problem they encounter.
Alfa Chemistry's SIRA Service Program
- Traceability testing with SIRA technology
All objects in nature are made of atoms and their isotopes. All natural materials include stable isotopes, and the ratios of these isotopes can change with environmental and geographic factors. We may therefore map production and source information to produce realistic reference data sets by looking at the stable atomic isotope ratios. For example, test samples can be evaluated for consistency with reference samples from known sources.
Isotopes in samples are separated by weight using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) by Alfa Chemistry. It is possible to identify isotopic "signatures" by examining the amount and proportion of stable isotopes in a sample.
We can provide:
- Feather and down origin testing
- Wood origin testing
- Wine origin testing
- Olive oil origin testing
- Meat origin testing
- Milk origin testing
- Egg origin testing
- Fruit juice origin testing and cereal origin testing
- Contaminant Detection with SIRA Technology
By examining and quantifying the anticipated rare isotope ratios of the samples, SIRA applications measure and identify unknown chemicals in samples. Alfa Chemistry uses SIRA to analyze sample variances in rare isotope ratios and identify additions.
Test samples: Milk, dairy, maple, juice and honey.
Test cases: Alfa Chemistry helps customers identify adulteration in honey and juice samples by detecting C4 sugars such as corn, sugar cane, or sorghum.
We analyze the ratio of a rare isotope (C13) and compare the results to a common isotope (C12) using an IRMS. The sample's ions are then plotted on a graph by the mass spectrometer, with spikes denoting the various components and their relative abundances. The higher the peak, the higher the amount of that ion relative to the sample.
The above items are just some of the tests available from Alfa Chemistry. Please contact us for more information on our services.
Alfa Chemistry's SIRA Instrument Platform
Alfa Chemistry's stable isotope laboratory instrumentation includes Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) and Elemental Analyzer, Gas Chromatograph, GasBench II multi-purpose sample in-line gas preparation and introduction unit, Cetac ASX-/ASX112 autosampler, etc.
Alfa Chemistry is always happy to assist you set up a follow-up mechanism and interpreting results, particularly if they are unexpected.
Please kindly note that our products and services are for research use only.
