Work

The Radiocarbon Content of Individual Lignin-Derived Phenols: Technique and Initial Results

Year: 2000

Type: article

Abstract: We present a method for the isolation of phenolic compounds derived from lignin for radiocarbon analysis. These phenols are generated by chemical oxidation of polymeric materials and derivatized for separation and recovery by preparative capillary gas chromatography (PCGC). This technique yields tens of micrograms of pure, stable compounds that can be converted to graphite and analyzed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Analysis of model flavor compounds and dated woods indicates that, in most cases, the radiocarbon (14C) contents of the individual compounds, corrected for the contribution of the derivative, agree with that of the bulk material to within 20%.

Source: Radiocarbon

DOI: 10.1017/s0033822200059026

Authors: A P McNichol, J R Ertel, T I Eglinton

Institutions: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Archaeology and ancient environmental studies

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Awards: G222768804, G7946456680, G8938792055