High-precision analytical method for triple oxygen isotopes of O<sub>2</sub> and application to marine gross primary productivity study

Zhou Jun; Tang Ce; Yan Maojun; Hu Huanting

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Zhou Jun，Tang Ce，Yan Maojun, et al. High-precision analytical method for triple oxygen isotopes of O2 and application to marine gross primary productivity study[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 48(x)：1–12

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Zhou Jun，Tang Ce，Yan Maojun, et al. High-precision analytical method for triple oxygen isotopes of O₂ and application to marine gross primary productivity study[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 48(x)：1–12

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High-precision analytical method for triple oxygen isotopes of O₂ and application to marine gross primary productivity study

Zhou Jun^1
,,
Tang Ce²,
Yan Maojun¹,
Hu Huanting^{1
,
,}

1.
School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
2.
JYTEK Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China

Received Date: 2025-09-08
Rev Recd Date: 2025-11-04

Available Online: 2025-11-22

Abstract

Abstract

Gross Oxygen production (GOP) in the surface ocean is a key indicator for evaluating the intensity of phytoplankton photosynthesis and the efficiency of marine biological carbon sequestration. However, photosynthesis and respiration occur simultaneously. It is very difficult to distinguish the total photosynthetic O₂ production from respiration O₂ consumption. Therefore, in situ measurement of marine GOP is extremely challenging. The triple oxygen isotope anomaly (¹⁷Δ) of dissolved oxygen does not change with respiration, providing a new isotopic indicator for evaluating marine GOP. Due to the extremely low natural abundance of ¹⁷O and its susceptibility to mass interference from N₂, high precision measurement for triple oxygen isotopes (δ¹⁸O, ¹⁷Δ) of O₂ is very difficult. In this study, we developed a high-vacuum pretreatment system and a gas chromatographic purification line. We successfully separated N₂ from O₂ and Ar for dissolved gases. By precisely controlling the temperature and collection time, we ensured 100% collection of O₂ and avoided oxygen isotopic fractionation from purification. Based on this method, the observed long-term external precision of the air standard was ± 2.6 per meg for ¹⁷Δ. Then, we analyzed the triple oxygen isotopic compositions of 5 dissolved gas samples collected in Prydz Bay, Southern Ocean, in January 2021. The mean ¹⁷Δ value of dissolved oxygen in the mixed layer was 66 per meg, corresponding to an average GOP of 181 mmol O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹. Our observation is consistent with the relatively low GOP of the high-latitude Southern Ocean during summer. The high-precision analytical method for triple oxygen isotopes of O₂ in this study demonstrates great potential for applications in marine GOP research and also provides valuable support for atmospheric and ice core trapped gas studies.
- triple oxygen isotopes,
- gross primary productivity,
- dissolved oxygen,
- Southern Ocean,
- isotope analysis

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References(61)

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