Inter-comparison of stable iron, copper and zinc isotopic compositions in six reference materials of biological origin

There is a lack of certified reference materials with an organic matrix for which metal isotope ratios have been certified. Here, we have determined the iron, copper and zinc stable isotopic compositions for six reference materials of biological origin with diverse matrices, i.e. BCR-380R (whole milk), BCR-383 (beans), ERM-CE464 (tuna fish), SRM-1577c (bovine liver), DORM-4 (fish protein) and TORT-3 (lobster hepatopancreas) in three different labs. The concentrations for six major and sixteen trace elements, spanning almost four orders of magnitude, were also measured and the results obtained show an excellent agreement with certified values, demonstrating that the dissolution step was quantitative for all the standards. By taking literature data into account, 39 possible pair-wise comparisons of mean iron, copper and zinc isotopic values (delta values) could be made. Results of Tukey multiple comparisons of means yielded 11 significantly different pairs. Most of these differences are of the same order of magnitude as the estimated mean expanded uncertainties (U, k = 2) (+/- 0.10 parts per thousand, +/- 0.05 parts per thousand, and +/- 0.05 parts per thousand for the delta Fe-56, delta Cu-65 and delta Zn-66 values, respectively). The present intercomparison study finally proposes nineteen new preferred values for the Cu, Zn and Fe isotopic compositions of six reference materials of biological origin.

Automated summary

The study determined the stable isotopic compositions of iron, copper, and zinc of six reference materials of biological origin, showing good agreement with certified values. By comparing 39 possible pair-wise isotopic values, 11 significantly different pairs were identified. The differences identified were mostly within the same order of magnitude as the estimated mean uncertainties.