GC IsoLink-Thermo Scientific

Get more Information from your GC Samples
by adding irm-GC/MS

The Thermo Scientific irm-GC/MS is the first fully integrated irm-GC/MS system which is operated like a GC/MS. The new Thermo Scientific GC IsoLink™ integrates the TRACE GC Ultra™ with the gas isotope ratio mass spectrometers (DELTA V and MAT 253) into one easy-to-use unit. The isotope ratios of all compounds in a GC application can now be monitored with precision of better than 2 ppm (0.0002 at%).

Isotope ratio monitoring-GC/MS
While GC/MS provides information on structural elucidation and compound quantitation, isotope ratio monitoring GC/MS (irm-GC/MS) reveals the history and origin of compounds by reading their isotopic signature with ultra-high precision. Small variations of the natural isotope abundances cannot be detected with GC/MS systems. Only the combination of a GC and an isotope ratio mass spectrometer is capable of routinely achieving the required precision.

This combination allows to determine the isotope ratios of all individual compounds in a complex mixture. All fields of application using GC and GC/MS can benefit from isotope ratio monitoring GC/MS. Isotopic fingerprints analyzed by irm-GC/MS may still provide information where classical GC/MS methods based on compound quantitation cannot.

Doping Control: Prolong Detection of Testosterone Administration

Comparison of urinary T/E ratios and δ¹³C testosterone values determined by irm-GC/MS after ingestion of 40 mg testosterone-undecanoate.^*

Ecology and Metabolic Studies: Explore Complex Ecosystems

δ²H [‰] Fatty Acid Methyl Esther (FAME) analysis of dog plasma samples.

Environmental Forensics: Reveal the Origin of Samples

δ¹³C [‰] analysis by irm-GC/MS allows to keep the link between weathered residues and the source of oil pollution.^**

Biogeochemistry: Read Geological Archives

δ²H [‰] of alkanes with GC separation of C₁₇ / pristane and C₁₈ / phytane

New Features
The GC IsoLink allows fully automated switching between combustion mode and high temperature pyrolysis mode for determination of δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ²H within one sequence. The GC IsoLink is using an improved combustion technology, which does not need a reduction reactor; hence reducing the number of sensitive connections in the gas flow and improving the peak performance. In addition the GC IsoLink comes with many more new powerful features

The GC IsoLink with Trace GC Ultra is using the central interface to the IRMS for continuous flow applications, the Thermo Scientific ConFlo IV Universal Interface. Features of the ConFlo IV can be used in combination with the GC IsoLink, like unattended switching between preparation devices, five reference gases with automated adjustment of intensities, autodilution of sample peaks, monitoring of system parameters and self-diagnosis.

These new features for the first time allow irm-GC/MS to be operated as simple as a GC/MS. The GC-IsoLink adds a new dimension of information to routine GC/MS applications.

*Data courtesy of German Sports University Cologne, Germany, Center for Preventive Doping Research/Institute of Biochemistry.
** Data courtesy of L. Mazeas, and H. Budzinski, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires (ISM), CNRS Laboratoire de Physico-et-Toxico-Chimie de L´Environnement, Talence, France.