Isotope fractionation in methane reactions studied by gas chromatography and liquid scintillation

Determination of 14C-marked methane by gas chromatography and liquid scintillation counting is shown to be useful in studies of isotope effects. Data on the specific activity is used to separate the contributions of 14CH4 and 12CH4 to the gas-chromatographic peak area. As an application the difference in diffusion for 12CH4 and 14CH4 is observed. The total efficiency is determined without resort to a radioactive standard by utilising information on the specific activity.