Trace metals stable isotopes, analysis

Certain techniques such as neutron activation analysis and stable isotope dilution analysis offer very powerful and sensitive methods for the determination of trace metals, but involve considerable effort and access to extensive facilities and so are not suited for routine laboratory determinations. However, they have been used to determine trace metal levels accurately in homogeneous biological materials, which are now used as reference materials for other techniques. 

Similarly, for trace metal analysis the preferred stable isotope would be one that is naturally present at as low a percent abundance as possible. In general, the synthesis of an isotopic variant in which hydrogen atoms (usually at specific positions in the molecule) are replaced by... 

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