Separation and analysis of chlorine isotopes in higher plants

•A method for the separation of chlorine in plant was developed.•The interferences affecting the determination of the chlorine isotope were eliminated.•The fractionation of chlorine isotope composition in tissues was investigated.•A useful isotope signature to understand better the Cl cycling process globally

A novel chemical mass spectrographic method was used in the determination of chlorine (Cl) isotopes in plant tissues. The procedure includes dry ashing, three-step ion chromatographic separation of Cl isotopes, and isotope ratio determination based on Cs2Cl+ ion in positive thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The recovery of the method and the fractionation of Cl isotopes were validated using certified reference standard materials. The pretreatment strongly eliminated the effects of organic impurities and other anionic interferences, especially soluble nitrates and sulfates. The results show that there was severe fractionation of Cl isotopic composition in the tissues of plant samples, which might be caused by different molecular mechanisms of uptake and translocation of Cl within plants. The observed Cl isotopic variation is considered to be a useful isotope signature of living systems, which may be used to understand better the Cl cycling process in the environment.

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