Camin, F; Besic, D; Brewer, P J; Allison, C E; Coplen, T B; Dunn, P J H; Gehre, M; Gröning, M; Meijer, H A J; Hélie, J; Iacumin, P; Kraft, R; Krajnc, B; Kümmel, S; Lee, S; Meija, J; Mester, Z; Mohn, J; Moossen, H; Qi, H; Skrzypek, G; Sperlich, P; Viallon, J; Wassenaar, L I; Wielgosz, R I (2025) Stable Isotope Reference Materials and Scale Definitions—Outcomes of the 2024 IAEA Experts Meeting. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 39 (14). e10018 ISSN 0951-4198

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Abstract

The participants of the 12 th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting on stable isotope reference materials reached a consensus, acknowledging the existence and use of two carbon isotope delta scales: the VPDB (Vienna Peedee belemnite) scale and the VPDB‐LSVEC (LSVEC ‐ lithium carbonate prepared by H. J. Svec). Conversion models between the two scales can be established and used but introduce uncertainty. A format for isotope delta scale definition was agreed upon and was used to define the two carbon isotope delta scales and the two main oxygen isotope delta scales, VSMOW‐SLAP (Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water–Standard Light Antarctic Precipitation) and VPDB. Confirmation or identification of a second‐scale–defining point is still necessary for the nitrogen and sulfur isotope delta scales.

Efforts are encouraged to improve consistency among laboratories in the isotopic analysis of “non‐exchangeable hydrogen” in bulk organic materials and oxygen in carbonates using the phosphoric acid reaction. Additional topics discussed include (1) need for improvement in reference materials for accurate greenhouse gas isotopic analyses; (2) reference materials under production by the IAEA, the US Geological Survey (USGS), and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); (3) methods for value and uncertainty assignment of reference materials; and (4) calculation of carbon‐13 isotope delta and oxygen‐18 isotope delta of CO 2 measured by dual‐inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Environmental Measurement > Atmospheric Science, Emission and Security
Divisions:	Atmospheric Environmental Sciences
Identification number/DOI:	10.1002/rcm.10018
Last Modified:	11 May 2026 14:36
URI:	https://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/10390