Emerging applications of high-precision Cu isotopic analysis by MC-ICP-MS

Kaj V Sullivan; James A Kidder; Tassiane P Junqueira; Frank Vanhaecke; Matthew I Leybourne

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156084

Emerging applications of high-precision Cu isotopic analysis by MC-ICP-MS

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Sep 10;838(Pt 2):156084. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156084. Epub 2022 May 20.

Authors

Kaj V Sullivan¹, James A Kidder², Tassiane P Junqueira³, Frank Vanhaecke⁴, Matthew I Leybourne⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Atomic & Mass Spectrometry - A&MS Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: kaj.sullivan@ugent.be.
² Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
³ Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
⁴ Atomic & Mass Spectrometry - A&MS Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
⁵ Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 35605848
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156084

Abstract

As a component of many minerals and an essential trace element in most aerobic organisms, the transition metal element Cu is important for studying reduction-oxidation (redox) interactions and metal cycling in the total environment (lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and anthroposphere). The "fractionation" or relative partitioning of the naturally occurring "heavy" (⁶⁵Cu) and "light" (⁶³Cu) isotope between two coexisting phases in a system occurs according to bonding environment and/or as a result of a slight difference in the rate at which these isotopes take part in physical processes and chemical reactions (in absence of equilibrium). Due to this behaviour, Cu isotopic analysis can be used to study a range of geochemical and biological processes that cannot be elucidated with Cu concentrations alone. The shift between Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ is accompanied by a large degree of Cu isotope fractionation, enabling the Cu isotope to be applied as a vector in mineral exploration, tracer of origin, transport, and fate of metal contaminants in the environment, biomonitor, and diagnostic/prognostic marker of disease, among other applications. In this contribution, we (1) discuss the analytical protocols that are currently available to perform Cu isotopic analysis, (2) provide a compilation of published δ⁶⁵Cu values for matrix reference materials, (3) review Cu isotope fractionation mechanisms, (4) highlight emerging applications of Cu isotopic analysis, and (5) discuss future research avenues.

Keywords: Copper isotopes; Geochemistry; Isotope metallomics; MC-ICP-MS; Mineral exploration; δ(65)Cu.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Chemical Fractionation
Copper* / analysis
Isotopes* / analysis
Metals
Spectrum Analysis

Substances

Isotopes
Metals
Copper