The World's Highest Performance Isotopic Water Analyzers.
CRDS Analyzer for Isotopic Water - Model L1102-i
The Picarro CRDS Isotopic Water Analyzers provide both δ18O and δD stable isotope ratios with high precision in one fast measurement. Isotope ratios at these precision levels formerly could only be obtained by the use of large, complex, expensive instrumentation such as IRMS (isotope ratio mass spectrometry) which required extensive sample preparation and a trained instrument technician. In contrast, the Picarro instruments are user-friendly, compact and rugged systems, ideal for deployment in the field or in the lab.
The instrument is configured with a unique vaporization module that converts the liquid water sample to the vapor phase in a flash process at 140 °C. The vapor is then delivered into the CRDS cavity for analysis. This process avoids any possible fractionation processes that may occur with other liquid/vapor transitions such as nebulizers. In addition, the instrument is equipped with a high throughput, high precision autosampler, capable of making consistent small injections into the vaporizer. The autosampler is controlled by the Picarro software so that complete methods using rinse functions, repeat injections and other useful capabilities are completely integrated.
All Picarro analyzers are equipped with a thermally controlled optical cavity that ensures minimal drift, even in the harshest environments. In addition, an onboard wavelength monitor enables the absorption lines unique to H216O, H218O, and HD16O to be scanned repeatedly, quickly and precisely.
The Picarro Isotopic Water Analyzers are ideal for applications as diverse as climate studies, paleoclimate reconstructions, isotopes in precipitation, ground and surface water tracers, aquifer dynamics, bird migration mapping, analytical hydrology tests, and metabolic activity monitoring, to name just a few.
Further, the L1102-i can easily be converted to vapor measurements, including sampling from multiple locations or tower heights. In addition, this system can be equipped with the hardware and software to enable scheduled injections of liquids standards from the autosampler during long term unattended vapor measurement campaigns.
Related Documentation
Video showing Picarro L1102-i measuring water isotopes on the Sacramento River.
Picarro's unmatched temperature and pressure control systems enable our Water Isotope analyzers to record data with precision and accuracy that is independent of fluctuating external conditions. These two data sets show that δ18O and δD are unaffected even when the external temperature is stepped over a wide range, ~5 °C through ~40 °C. We challenge any other water isotope system to demonstrate such outstanding performance.
Video showing Picarro analyzers going through severe shock and vibration tests before shipment.