Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS)

Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) is a technique used to measure the relative amounts of different isotopes—variants of the same element with different atomic weights—in a sample. By analyzing these ratios, IRMS can reveal information about the sample's origin, history, or processes it has undergone, such as dietary sources, environmental conditions, or geological events. It works by ionizing the sample, then separating ions based on their mass-to-charge ratios. This precise analysis helps scientists distinguish subtle differences in samples, making IRMS a powerful tool in fields like geology, ecology, forensics, and food authenticity testing.