Logo of the Atomic Weights Commission Logo of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

    Mercury Isotope Materials

    Natural isotopic variations of mercury isotopes encompass a δ(202/198Hg) range of about ±4 ‰. Triggered by the rapid development in multi-collector ICP-MS, mercury-isotope studies have increased significantly within the last decade. Mercury-isotope research is carried out in many disciplines, and a major part involves investigating isotopic fractionation in the biogeochemical mercury cycle. Within this research, mass-independent isotopic fractionation of mercury has been observed. Differentiation between mass-dependent and mass-independent isotopic fractionation of mercury isotopes requires higher precision than usual, therefore, mercury isotopic reference materials supporting measurement uncertainties in the sub-permil range are required.


    δ(202/198Hg) Values of Reference Materials

    Name Material δNIMS-1(202/198Hg)
    NRC NIMS-1solution 0 ‰ *
    NIST SRM 3133solution 0 ‰ **
    NIST SRM 2225elemental Hg+4.6(1.3) ‰
    NIST SRM 1641dsolution+0.03(10) ‰
    Name Material δNIMS-1(202/198Hg)

    Footnotes      Back to Top
    * Exact value defining the δ(202/198Hg) NIMS-1 scale.
    ** See the Assessment of international reference materials for isotope-ratio analysis for more details.
    Values in parenthesis are expanded (k = 2) uncertainties applicable to the last digits. The values listed in this table are compilation and are not necessarily CIAAW recommendations.

    Citation

    W.A. Brand et al
    Assessment of international reference materials for isotope-ratio analysis Pure and Applied Chemistry 86, 425-467 (2014)