# US 2017/0284993 A1 · Isotope analysis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284993 A1 - Document ID: US20170284993A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/626,377 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-19 - Assignees: Elementar UK Ltd. - Applicants: Elementar UK Ltd. - Inventors: Nicholas DRENZEK; Robert PANETTA; Kyle TAYLOR - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284993A1 ## CPC - G01N 33/241: {for hydrocarbon content} - G01N 33/004: {CO or CO2} - G01N 33/0042: {SO2 or SO3} - G01N 33/0044: {Sulphides, e.g. H2S} - H01J 49/0422: {for gaseous samples (interfaces to gas chromatographs G01N30/7206)} - G01N 5/00: Analysing materials by weighing, e.g. weighing small particles separated from a gas or liquid (G01N9/00 takes precedence {; weighing per se G01G}) - G01N 21/31: Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry {(G01N21/72 takes precedence)} - G01N 31/12: using combustion (G01N25/20 takes precedence) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract The invention provides apparatus and methods for determining the isotope ratio of a sample. The apparatus comprises a dynamically heated chamber (1); a reactor (4), wherein an outlet of the dynamically heated chamber is coupled to a reactor inlet; an isotope ratio spectrometer (6), wherein an outlet of the reactor is coupled to a spectrometer inlet; such that a gas flow path is provided from the dynamically heated chamber to the isotope ratio spectrometer; wherein the apparatus includes at least one selective gas trap (3,5) in the gas flow path, the gas trap being configured to selectively and reversibly trap one or more gases present in the gas flow in use. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising; a dynamically heated chamber; a reactor, wherein an outlet of the dynamically heated chamber is coupled to a reactor inlet; an isotope ratio spectrometer, wherein an outlet of the reactor is coupled to a spectrometer inlet; such that a gas flow path is provided from the dynamically heated chamber to the isotope ratio spectrometer, wherein the apparatus includes at least one selective gas trap in the gas flow path, the gas trap being configured to selectively and reversibly trap one or more gases present in the gas flow in use. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first selective gas trap is included in the gas flow path between the reactor and the spectrometer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first selective gas trap is configured to trap one or more gases selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first selective gas trap is configured to trap carbon dioxide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a second selective gas trap is included in the gas flow path between the dynamically heated chamber and the reactor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a second selective gas trap is included in the gas flow path between the dynamically heated chamber and the reactor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second selective gas trap is included in the gas flow path between the dynamically heated chamber and the reactor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second selective gas trap is configured to trap hydrocarbon gases. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said hydrocarbon gases comprise hydrocarbons substituted with sulphur, oxygen, nitrogen, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second selective gas trap is configured to trap hydrocarbon gases; and wherein said hydrocarbon gases further comprise hydrocarbons substituted with sulphur, oxygen, nitrogen, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second selective gas trap is configured to trap hydrocarbon gases; and wherein said hydrocarbon gases further comprise hydrocarbons substituted with sulphur, oxygen, nitrogen, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one selective gas trap comprises a sorbent material that selectively sorbs one or more gases present in the gas flow in use. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the selective gas trap additionally comprises a heater, such that the trap can be heated in use to desorb trapped gas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reactor comprises a catalyst, which catalyses one or more of (a) oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, (b) oxidation of sulphur-containing compounds to sulphur dioxide, (c) conversion of nitrogen-containing compounds to nitrogen, (d) reduction of hydrocarbons to hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide, (e) pyrolysis of hydrocarbons to hydrogen gas. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the isotope ratio spectrometer differentiates isotopes by mass spectrometry or spectroscopy. ### Claim 16 A method of determining isotope ratios in fractions of a sample, the method comprising the sequential steps of; (i) dynamically heating the sample to thermally differentiate fractions of the sample; (iii) selective reaction of the step (i) output to produce a reacted gas; and (v) completing isotope ratio spectrometry wherein the method additionally comprises; (ii) selectively and reversibly trapping components of the step (i) output prior to step (iii); and/or (iv) selectively and reversibly trapping components of the reacted gas prior to step (v). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein step (iii) comprises one or more of the following reactions; (a) oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, (b) oxidation of sulphur-containing compounds to sulphur dioxide, (c) conversion of nitrogen-containing compounds to nitrogen, (d) reduction of hydrocarbons to hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide, (e) pyrolysis of hydrocarbons to hydrogen gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A method of claim 16, wherein the sample comprises rock. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the sample comprises rock.