CARBON ISOTOPE FRACTIONATION BETWEEN DISSOLVED BICARBONATE AND GASEOUS CARBON-DIOXIDE

Abstract The fractionation of the stable carbon isotopes between gaseous CO 2 and dissolved bicarbonate has been measured from 5 to 25°C by a method of high precision. Additional measurements of lower precision were made up to 125°C. The results are well represented by the relation: e b (g) = −(9.483 ± 0.22)10 3 /T+(23.89 ± 0.75)‰ . Using earlier values for the equilibrium between gaseous and dissolved CO 2 , the isotope fractionation between dissolved HCO 3 − and dissolved CO 2 is: e b (a) = −(9.866 ± 0.23)10 3 /T+(24.12 ± 0.78)‰ . Tables are given for the carbon isotope fractionation in the system CO 2 (g)-CO 2 (aq)-HCO 3 − at normal temperatures.