Stable Isotope Techniques Across Chemistry: Methods, Applications, and Perspectives
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Analytical Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 250
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The stable isotopic composition of matter is governed by a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms. Tracking the different transformations of such matter has become possible through the use of stable isotope analysis. This powerful tool provides insights into processes occurring at various spatial and temporal scales. Over the last decades, the development of increasingly accurate and sophisticated isotopic techniques has enabled the analysis of an exceptionally broad spectrum of matrices, including environmental (e.g., sediments, soils, waters, petroleum, meteorites), biological (e.g., bones, blood, organic tissues), and agri-food samples (e.g., milk, oils, wine). As a result, the application of stable isotope methodologies has rapidly expanded across numerous scientific disciplines, including geochemistry, archaeology, forensic science, biomedicine, environmental science, microbiology, soil science, and doping and fraud control, among many others. Indeed, the versatility and robustness of isotopic approaches make them a unique tool, with virtually limitless potential for unveiling new knowledge across the natural and applied sciences.
This Special Issue is dedicated to providing an updated and comprehensive view of recent advances in the application of stable isotope analysis within the diverse fields of chemistry. Contributions may include, but are not limited to, improvements in analytical procedures and instrumentation, such as new sample preparation strategies and innovative instrumental setups, as well as novel and emerging applications of isotope-based methods. Furthermore, studies that showcase recent applications of already well-established methodologies, yielding significant and novel results, are highly encouraged, along with review articles that synthesize current knowledge and provide future perspectives.
We are confident that this collection will be of great interest to the scientific community, reflecting the growing relevance and expanding role of isotopic analysis as a cornerstone in modern chemical and interdisciplinary research.
Dr. Matteo Perini
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- stable isotope analysis
- compound specific stable isotopes
- authenticity
- traceability
- biogenic isotopic composition
- biogeochemistry
- geochemistry
- molecular archaeometry
- environmental chemistry
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