CO2 Reference Material Breakseals.

Isotopically Characterized Carbon Dioxide

These Reference Materials (RMs) are intended to provide pure carbon dioxide standards of known isotopic composition and uncertainty, and may be used to calibrate instruments (e.g., isotope ratio mass spectrometers) used for analysis of 13C and 18O abundances in a wide variety of carbonaceous and oxygenic samples. Standardized isotopic compositions are expressed as parts per thousand relative differences from the primary standard Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB), and were determined through international comparison exercises conducted among independent laboratories.

The RMs are issued in tubular glass breakseals (diameter of 9 mm) containing about 400 µmol of CO2, and each is labeled with a unique number that can be linked with preparation variables. To open, they require the use of a suitable tube cracker. Because very limited quantities of these materials exist, distribution is limited to one unit (two breakseals) of each RM per three-year period of time. Users are strongly advised to prepare their own internal laboratory standards for routine quality control, and to compare their laboratory standards with these RMs. A web-based tool is available to help determine the value assignment of internal laboratory standards.

RM 8562: pure CO2, paleomarine origin

RM 8563: pure CO2, petrochemical origin

RM 8564: pure CO2, modern biomass origin

TECHNICAL CONTACT: M. Verkouteren, phone 301-975-3933

NIST Report of Investigation for RMs 8562 - 8564. (PDF format)