Clumped 13CH2D and 12CHD2 compositions of methyl groups from wood and synthetic monomers: Methods, experimental and theoretical calibrations, and initial results

Methyl groups are found in numerous biogenic and synthetic materials including geologically preserved materials such as wood. The carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of methyl groups are used as tracers in biogeochemical cycles, as pale-othermometers, and to determine the hydrogen isotopic composition of ancient rain. Here we present analyses of resolved C-13-D ((CH2D)-C-13) and D-D ((CHD2)-C-12) clumped isotope compositions of methyl groups as new variables for the study of methyl groups in the present and past. We first present chemical methods to extract, purify, and derivatize methyl groups from methoxyl (R-O-CH3) groups as CH3F and CH3Cl, and high-resolution mass spectrometric techniques to determine the clumped isotope compositions of these species. We achieve precisions for C-13-D clumping of +/- 0.25 parts per thousand and D-D clumping of +/- 2.5 parts per thousand. We anchor our clumped isotopic measurements to a thermodynamic reference frame by first calculating the theoretical temperature dependences of C-13-D and D-D clumping in CH3Cl, then placing our measurements onto this reference frame through experimental internal isotopic equilibration of CH3Cl at 200 degrees C. Finally, we provide and analyze an initial dataset of clumped 13C-D and D-D compositions of methyl groups from various commercial/synthetic monomers and environmental woods. We observe ranges in clumped isotope compositions of similar to 11 parts per thousand in C-13-D and similar to 48 parts per thousand in D-D, and systematic differences within these ranges between methyl groups from commercial monomers and wood. Specifically, commercial clumped 13C-D compositions are between 0 and 3 parts per thousand, which correspond to apparent equilibrium temperatures between 170 degrees C and the infinite temperature limit. In contrast, the clumped 13C-D compositions of wood methoxyl groups are distinctively high (9.50-11.25 parts per thousand) and 3-6 parts per thousand higher than would be expected if formed in internal isotopic equilibrium at Earth-surface temperatures. Commercial/synthetic methyl and wood methoxyl clumped D-D compositions are also distinct: -5 to +13 parts per thousand in commercial monomers vs. -35 to -8 parts per thousand in wood-such negative values cannot result from formation in isotopic equilibrium and require kinetic processes to have occurred. These results indicate that wood methoxyl groups are formed out of isotopic equilibrium and that clumped isotope compositions of methyl groups may be useful tracers of methyl group sources and sinks in the environment. For instance, isotopic clumping in methyl groups may be useful for understanding controls on isotopic clumping in methane produced by methylotrophic methanogens. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Methyl groups are commonly found in various materials and can be used as tracers in biogeochemical cycles and as indicators of past environmental conditions. This study introduces new variables for studying methyl groups, including the analysis of C-13-D and D-D clumped isotope compositions. The differences in clumped isotope compositions between commercial monomers and wood suggest that methyl groups may be useful in identifying sources and sinks of methyl groups in the environment.