Performance of diffusive gradients in thin films for measurement of the isotopic composition of soluble Zn

The application of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) samplers for measurements of the isotopic composition of soluble Zn by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) was tested under laboratory conditions. The effect of diffusion in hydrogels as a possible source of fractionation was investigated by measuring Zn isotope ratios for different fractions of Zn accumulated by DGT and comparing with the bulk isotope composition of the solution. An important finding of this study is that, provided quantitative elution is obtained, no fractionation of Zn isotopes due to the diffusion process is detectable within the reported precision of MC-ICPMS measurements. Consequently, DGT samplers are suitable for studies of the Zn isotopic composition in natural waters.