Rationale: The nitrogen and oxygen (δ15 N, δ18 O, and δ17 O values) isotopic compositions of nitrate (NO3 - ) are crucial tracers of nutrient nitrogen (N) sources and dynamics in aquatic systems. Current methods such as bacterial denitrification or Cd-azide reduction require laborious multi-step conversions or toxic chemicals to reduce NO3 - to N2 O for 15 N and 18 O isotopic analyses by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Furthermore, the 17 O composition of N2 O cannot be directly disentangled using IRMS because 17 O contributes to mass 45 (15 N).
Methods: We describe a new one-step chemical conversion method that employs Ti(III) chloride to reduce nitrate to N2 O gas in septum sample vials. Sample preparation takes only a few minutes followed by a 24-h reaction producing N2 O gas (65-75% recovery) which partitions into the headspace. The N2 O headspace was measured for 15 N, 18 O and 17 O by IRMS or laser spectrometry.
Results: IRMS and laser spectrometric analyses gave accurate and reproducible N and O isotopic results down to 50 ppb (3.5 μM) NO3 -N, similar in precision to the denitrifier and Cd-azide methods. The uncertainties for dissolved nitrate reference materials (USGS32, USGS34, USGS35, IAEA-NO3 ) were ±0.2‰ for δ15 N values and ±0.3‰ for δ18 O values using IRMS. For laser-based N2 O isotope analyses the results were similar, with an δ17 O uncertainty of ±0.9‰ without any need for 15 N correction.
Conclusions: Advantages of the Ti(III) reduction method are simplicity, low cost, and no requirement for toxic chemicals or anaerobic bacterial cultures. Minor corrections may be required to account for sample nitrate concentration variance and potential chemical interferences. The Ti(III) method is easily implemented into laboratories currently using N2 O headspace sampling apparatus. We expect that the Ti(III) method will promulgate the use of N and O isotopes of nitrate in important studies of nutrient dynamics and pollution in a wide range of aquatic ecosystems.
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.