The new standard in high performance IRMS
Imagine if…You could achieve better than 10 ppm precision for 48 CO2 / 44 CO2, within 100 minutes
In recent years measurement of isotopologues or “clumped isotopes” has become widespread. Focus is on the analysis of CO2 where isotopes of mass m/z 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 are of interest. The new SIRIX mass spectrometer from Isotopx features advanced multicollector technology derived from the Phoenix Thermal Ionisation MS. It also includes the ATONA® amplifier in combination with a high sensitivity, high mass resolution spectrometer design. The result is a powerful, versatile, sensitive, stable isotope mass spectrometer that is intuitive to use, and can also be optimised for the most exacting applications.
SIRIX includes up to 9 individually movable Faraday collectors, allowing complete fl exibility in the choice of isotope analysis. The ion optics are based on the same magnet design as the Phoenix TIMS. A large 90° 27 cm radius magnet provides sufficient mass dispersion to allow for simultaneous multicollection of all CO2 isotopes. The wide flight tube ensures no backgrounds from ion reflections under the minor isotopes. Interferences from hydrocarbons are eliminated from peak centres due to the high mass resolution (>500, 10% valley). A mass resolving power of 5,000 is obtainable.
The large dynamic range and low noise of the ATONA® allows the accurate and precise measurement of ion signals of >1e-7 A down to <1e-17 A on the Faraday array, essential for CO2 analysis.
analysed for 6,000 1 s integrations. This length of time is comparable to sample on-beam time for clumped isotope analyses
Imagine if…You didn’t need to sample-standard bracket, effectively doubling your sample throughput
Existing instrumentation requires switching between sample and reference gas of the order of every 30 s to continually “calibrate” the instrument. Each switch between sample and reference gas has a
corresponding delay/settle period for the beam intensity to stabilise. As a result, the duty cycle of sample gas can be well below 50%, limiting productivity.
With the development of the ATONA® amplifier system and new extended range ATONA®, Isotopx has successfully managed to improve performance and stability of the amplifier system. The exceptionally quiet and stable amplifier allows for extended measurement times of sample gas, without the need for repetitive calibration with a reference gas, or calibration of different gain resistors
the ATONA® amplifier peak exhibits much lower noise characteristics than 10e11 or 10e12 resistor amplifier peaks.
Imagine if… You didn’t need to calibrate your detectors, or choose your resistor according to application or beam size
The unique ATONA® amplification technology from Isotopx has eliminated the need for a “feedback resistor”. The outcome is a significant reduction in amplifier noise, a dramatic increase in dynamic range, rapid amplifier decay, and improved baseline and calibration stability. The new extended range ATONA® is fitted as standard and increases maximum signal measurement to 200 nA on channel 1 and 20 nA on channels 2 to 9. This allows the instrument to run with much greater signal intensity. Correspondingly the time taken to achieve the required precision is much shorter, increasing sample throughput. The ATONA® amplifier also exhibits extremely stable baseline measurements over extended periods of time.
The dynamic range of the ATONA® amplifier is far wider than that of traditional resistive amplifiers. The image below shows a dynamic range comparison of resistive amplifiers and ATONA® referenced to a 1e11 Ω amplifier.
1e11 Ω amplifier
adjustable source slit.
Download brochure
Click here to download the SIRIX brochure