This work examines
the stable isotope fractionation of carbon and
oxygen in gaseous, supercritical, and liquid carbon dioxide systems
at temperatures from −27.1 to +43.5 °C. For pressurized
single-, supercritical-, and dual-phase carbon dioxide, both carbon
and oxygen isotope fractionations can be measured and are significant
when subjected to variations within this temperature range. The δ
13C and δ
18O values ranged from −41.55 to −41.38 ‰ (VPDB)
and −27.74 to −24.9 ‰ (VPDB), respectively, for
gas-phase carbon dioxide from 9.3 to 39 °C. A pressure variation
of 27.58 barg to 34.48 barg was measured throughout this temperature
range. In order to evaluate the effect of supercritical formation
and liquefaction on the stable isotope values, cylinders were filled
to varying pressures. When stored at cold temperatures, the δ13C value as measured in the headspace of the liquid phase
varied from −41.23 to −41.13 ‰ (VPDB) and −41.50
to −41.44 ‰ (VPDB) in the supercritical phase. The δ18O value was between −25.51 and −25.36 ‰
(VPDB) in the liquid phase and between −24.79 and −24.77
‰ (VPDB) in the supercritical phase. Temperatures in these
experiments were selected to mimic outdoor conditions (winter and
summer) that stable isotope laboratory practitioners may encounter
when storing compressed carbon dioxide cylinders containing stable
isotope working reference gases. The carbon and oxygen isotope composition
of carbon dioxide gas within these pressurized cylinders return to
their precooled isotope values within ∼24 h when warmed to
laboratory temperatures (∼24 °C). A headspace analysis
performed immediately after the carbon dioxide cylinder was removed
from the cold environment yielded δ13C values that
were relatively enriched, while δ18O values were
relatively depleted. This is likely an effect of 12C and 18O being preferentially partitioned in the liquid phase within
the cylinder. As the cylinder warmed, both liquid and gas equilibrated,
and carbon and oxygen homogenized isotopically. As the cylinder was
heated into the supercritical phase, a slight opposite isotope effect
at higher pressure and temperatures was noted. That is, a slight 13C depletion and 18O enrichment were observed in
the gas phase. However, these isotope variations were just slightly
outside of the analytical error. Additionally, a separate gas-phase
carbon dioxide cylinder was kept at a constant laboratory temperature
as a control. This carbon dioxide showed no measurable carbon or oxygen
isotope variation throughout the duration of the experimental work.
The measured isotope fractionation was significantly higher comparing
the phase transition from the gaseous to liquid phase versus the gaseous
phase to supercritical phase. The proper handling of pressurized carbon
dioxide cylinders used as reference gases for an isotope ratio mass
spectrometer includes using carbon dioxide at pressures of less than
∼34.88 barg to ensure that the gas is present as a single phase,
storing the gas in a temperature-controlled environment, and allowing
the gaseous carb...