Analytical Method for Lithium Isotopes Determination by Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry: A Useful Tool for Hydrogeochemical Applications

Water

Massimo D’Antonio¹  Ciro Cucciniello¹  Ilenia Arienzo²  Federica Lupone²  Marcello Liotta³  Lorenzo Brusca³ 

[1] Department of Earth, Environmental and Resources Sciences (DiSTAR), University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia 21 (edificio L), 80126 Naples, Italy;National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124 Naples, Italy;National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Sezione di Palermo, Via La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy;

关键词: TIMS;    ⁶Li/⁷Li ratio;    analytical methods;    reference materials;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w12082182

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The low temperature realm such as the geothermal systems, characterized by a large variety of near-Earth surface processes, has been the object of several isotopic studies, some of them including lithium isotopes. However, much work can still be done to systematically use lithium as tracer of geochemical processes in deep and shallow Earth reservoirs. A pilot study has been performed for the determination of lithium-isotope ratio by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), a technique poorly employed with respect to other methods such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, being more time consuming. Lithium has been extracted by chromatographic techniques on columns through an ion exchange process from both natural and reference samples. The isotope composition (⁶Li/⁷Li) expressed in terms of δ⁷Li has been determined in dynamic and static mode for comparative purposes, by using two different types of thermal ionization mass spectrometers. The results presented in this work agree with the data reported in the literature, opening a new perspective to future research on continental geothermal systems and groundwater domains, spread over the entire Italian peninsula. This research is based on the use of chemical and isotopic data, whereas it does not include lithium isotopes. These latter may provide a huge contribution in studying both volcanic products and fluids from active volcanic areas, including the superposed geothermal systems, and may represent a new tool for research and surveillance.

【 授权许可】

Unknown