Boron isotope ratio measurements with a double-focusing magnetic sector ICP mass spectrometer for tracing anthropogenic input into surface and groundwater
He. Gabler et A. Bahr, Boron isotope ratio measurements with a double-focusing magnetic sector ICP mass spectrometer for tracing anthropogenic input into surface and groundwater, CHEM GEOL, 156(1-4), 1999, pp. 323-330
Double-focusing magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometr
y (ICP-MS) is used for precise boron isotope ratio measurements in surface
and ground water. The precision is in the range of 1-2 parts per thousand.
Boron in detergents has a characteristic isotope ratio that can be used to
identify the boron source. Anthropogenic input of boron into surface and gr
ound water has been successfully identified by analysing the boron isotope
ratios in an area north of the Hart Mountains in Germany. The method was va
lidated by comparing the results of the boron isotope ratio measurements wi
th the lithium concentration. Lithium is anthropogenically released in the
study area and is used as a second independent tracer. The conclusions from
the boron isotope ratio measurements agree exactly with those from analysi
s of Li concentrations in the study area. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. Al
l rights reserved.