15N Analysis of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide by cryotrap enrichment using a gas chromatograph quadrupole mass spectrometer and its application to (15)N-tracer investigations of NO/N(2)O formation in soil.

Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N(2)O) are two important trace gases in the atmosphere. Determining the concentration and (15)N abundance of NO and N(2)O in air is difficult owing to their very low concentration in the atmosphere (NO < 1 ppb(v); N(2)O approximately 0.32 ppm(v)). Although (15)N analysis of N(2)O in ambient concentrations can be carried out using a gas chromatograph quadrupole mass spectrometer system (GC-QMS) and a dosage of 2 mL of air by means of a sample loop, this system is not sensitive enough to measure the ambient concentration of NO and its (15)N abundance. Therefore the concentration of NO must be enriched by cryotrapping (cooling with liquid nitrogen). The (15)N analytical method developed enables the sensitive and sufficiently precise measurement of (15)N-enriched NO in air. Furthermore, the analytical equipment developed greatly improves existing (15)N(2)O analysis using the GC-QMS technique. An application of the (15)N analysis method will be shown for an investigation on the NO and N(2)O formation in black earth soil after (15)NH(4)(+), (15)NO(3)(-) and (15)NO(2)(-) labelling. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.