Effective elimination of organic matter interference in boron isotopic analysis by thermal ionization mass spectrometry of coral/foraminifera: micro-sublimation technology combined with ion exchange

Abstract

In order to better estimate the effectiveness of micro-sublimation technology on the elimination of organic matter interference during boron isotopic analysis, a series of improved experiments was carried out using simple apparatus. Recovery rates after micro-sublimation were measured for boric acid solutions with different B contents or different B/organic matter ratios. The improved micro-sublimation procedure combined with ion-exchange technology was then used to test natural samples (coral and foraminifera) for the separation of boron. Our results show that the time taken for 100% recovery of different amounts of B differed and that the proportions of B/organic matter within the natural organic matter have little effect on the relationship between the recovery rates of B and the micro-sublimation times. The experiments further confirm that the organic matter does indeed have an effect on boron isotope analyses by positive thermal ionization mass spectrometry and that the use of micro-sublimation can effectively remove interferences from the organic matter during boron isotopic analysis.