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- Evidence For Bias In C/N, Δ13C and Δ15N Values of Aquatic and Terrestrial Organic Materials Due To Acid Pre-treatment Methods
Evidence for bias in C/N, δ13C and δ15N values of aquatic and terrestrial organic materials due to acid pre-treatment methods
Chris R. Brodie
PAGES news
19(2)
65-67
2011
Chris R. Brodie1,2
1Department of Geography, Durham University, UK
2Department of Earth Sciences, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong: brodie@hku.hk
Acid treatment of organic materials, necessary to remove inorganic carbon prior to isotopic analysis, adds an unpredictable and non-linear bias to measured C/N, δ13C and δ15N values questioning their reliability and interpretation.
C/N, δ13C and δ15N as paleoenvironmental proxies
The analysis of organic matter (OM) from modern and paleoenvironmental settings has contributed to the understanding of the carbon biogeochemical cycle at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Specifically, the concentrations of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), from which the C/N ratio is derived, and stable C and N isotopes (12C/13C, quoted as δ13C relative to Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (V-PDB) and; 14N/15N, quoted as δ15N relative to N2-AIR) of OM have been used to understand processes from biological productivity through to paleoenvironmental interpretations. For example, C/N ratios are widely used as an indicator of OM origin (C/N < 10 interpreted as aquatic; C/N > 20 as terrestrial source) and δ13C can be used to, among other things, understand broad-scale changes in vegetation type (e.g., photosynthetic pathways; C3 and C4 plant types; Smith and Epstein, 1971; Meyers, 1997; 2003; Sharpe, 2007). δ15N has also been used to investigate OM origin (Thornton and McManus, 1994; Meyers, 1997; Hu et al., 2006), but is more commonly used to understand nitrate utilization, denitrification and N deposition in aquatic systems (e.g., Altabet et al., 1995). These interpretations are based on the assumption that we can reliably determine C/N, δ13C and δ15N values in OM.
Acid pre-treatment methods: The “free for all”
In the natural environment, carbon is commonly considered in two major forms—organic and inorganic (OC and IC). Both forms can act as a contaminant in the measurement of the other due to their distinctive isotopic signatures (e.g., IC is assumed to be enriched in 13C relative to OC: Hoefs, 1977; Sharpe, 2007). Therefore, the accurate determination of C/N and δ13C of OM necessarily involves the removal of IC from the sample material. This is commonly achieved by acid pre-treatment. A number of fundamentally different acid pre-treatment methods exist, within which a range of acid reagents and strengths, types of capsule and reaction temperatures are used. There is no consensus on “best practice”. An inherent, and widely unrecognized, assumption of these acid pre-treatment methods is that their effect on sample OM is either negligible or at least systematic (and small), implying that, within instrument precision, all measured values should be indistinguishable from one another regardless of the method followed. The type and strength of the acid reagent, and type of capsule the sample is combusted in, are assumed to have no effect on measured values. However, these assumptions have hitherto never been systematically investigated, implying that the scientific approach remains to be validated.
We examined three common acid pre-treatment methods for the removal of IC in OM: (1) Rinse Method: Acidification followed by sequential water rinse, the treated samples from which are combusted in tin (Sn) capsules (e.g., Midwood and Boutton, 1998; Ostle et al., 1999; Schubert and Nielsen, 2000; Galy et al., 2007); (2) Capsule Method: In-situ acidification in silver (Ag) capsules (e.g., Verardo et al., 1990; Nieuwenhuize et al., 1994a, b; Lohse et al., 2000; Ingalls et al., 2004); and (3) Fumigation Method: Acidification by exposure of the sample to an acid vapor in silver (Ag) capsules (e.g., Harris et al., 2001; Komada et al., 2008). δ15N is often measured from untreated sample aliquots weighed directly into Sn capsules, assuming negligible influence of inorganic nitrogen (e.g., Müller, 1977; Altabet et al., 1995; Schubert and Calvert, 2001; Sampei and Matsumoto, 2008). However, the application of “dual-mode” isotope analyses (the simultaneous measurement of C/N, δ13C and δ15N from the same pre-treated sample; e.g., Kennedy et al., 2005; Jinglu et al., 2007; Kolasinski et al., 2008; Bunting et al., 2010) is increasing. It was therefore also necessary to test whether acid pre-treatment had an effect on δ15N results. Hydrochloric (HCl), sulfurous (H2SO3) and phosphoric (H3PO4) acid, at varying strengths have been compared (e.g., Kennedy et al., 2005; Brodie et al., 2011a).
Non-linear, unpredictable bias to organic matter
Measured C/N, δ13C and δ15N values vary in a non-linear, unpredictable manner within (capsule type and acid reagent) and between (“capsule”, “rinse” and “fumigation”) acid pre-treatment methods (Fig. 1 and 2). In addition, the coherency of any one method or acid reagent is highly variable between the materials tested (i.e., high variability in accuracy and precision). This suggests that the measured C/N, δ13C and δ15N values of OM are not only dependent on environmental process, but also on analytical procedure, reducing the reliability of the data to the point of questioning the strength of the subsequent interpretation. Across all of the materials and pre-treatment methods tested, biases in C/N were in the range of 7 – 113; δ13C in the range of 0.2 – 7.1 ‰; and δ15N in the range of 0.2 – 1.5 ‰, resulting directly from bias to sample OM by acid treatment and in some instances residual IC (see Brodie et al., 2011a, b for a detailed discussion). The range and magnitude of these treatment-induced biases indicate that the assumption that there is negligible or systematic effect from acid pre-treatment is seriously flawed.
The range and magnitude of these biases are influenced by a number of factors. For example, %C and %N can be artificially concentrated by weight in the “rinse” method due to a loss a fine colloidal materials in the discarded supernatant; and C/N, δ13C and δ15N values can be biased due to loss of fine colloidal organic in the supernatant and solubilization of OC (Brodie et al., 2011a). These values can similarly be influenced in the “capsule” and “fumigation” methods due to volatilization of OC and residual IC. Furthermore, the type of acid reagent (e.g., HCl, H2SO3 or H3PO4) and strength of acid reagent (e.g., 5% HCl, 10% HCl or 20% HCl) within and between pre-treatment methods can affect the accuracy and precision of measured values. In addition, the capsule within which the sample is combusted can influence results due to the fundamental difference in combustion temperatures (Sn is 232°C and Ag is 962°C). Sample size, C and N homogeneity and the type, amount and nature of OM, can further influence the analysis. The underlying mechanisms causing these biases, however, remain unclear.
Implications for interpretation of C/N, δ13C and δ15N values
Bias by acid pre-treatment on OM can significantly undermine C/N values as indicators of OM provenance. For example, Figures 1 and 2 show that although broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is a terrestrial C3 plant, an aquatic or aquatic/terrestrial combination could be concluded from the data, depending upon the method and/or acid reagent (see Brodie et al., 2011a). In addition, C/N values can also vary considerably depending on whether they are calculated with %N from treated or untreated sample aliquots (see Brodie et al., 2011a, b). For δ13C, biasing in the range of 0.2 – 7.1‰ can undermine C3 vs. C4 plant type interpretations, and together with C/N undermine bi-plot interpretations of C/N, δ13C and δ15N values. This clearly demonstrates that the data are inherently unreliable as a function of the analytical approach. Although the underlying mechanisms require further research, it is clear the biases represented here across a range of terrestrial and aquatic, modern and ancient organic materials has direct implications for paleo reconstructions: understanding and reducing the uncertainty on the data is an essential prerequisite for reliable interpretations and reconstructions.
Concluding Remarks
The systematic comparisons of Brodie et al. (2011a, b) clearly demonstrate non-linear and unpredictable biasing of OM due to acid pre-treatment, and concomitantly indicate that complete IC removal (the purpose of acid pre-treatment) is not guaranteed. It is concluded that these biases are inherently not correctable but inevitable, and have a direct consequence for the accuracy and precision of measured values (i.e., significantly greater than instrument precision). Moreover, environmental interpretations of the data in both modern and paleo systems could be highly questionable.
acknowledgements
The author is grateful to J. Casford, J. Lloyd, Z. Yongqiang, T. Heaton, M. Bird and M. Leng for their support and discussions. Financial support came from the NERC through PhD studentship (NE/F007264/1), a NERC isotope Facility grant (IP/1165/0510), and the Dudley Stamp Memorial Fund.
references
For full references please consult: http://pastglobalchanges.org/products/newsletters/ref2011_2.pdf