Abstract
ABSTRACTThe Belfast Ramped Pyroxidation/Combustion (RPO/RC) facility was established at the14CHRONO Centre (Queen’s University Belfast). The facility was created to provide targeted analysis of bulk material for refined chronological analysis and carbon source attribution for a range of sample types. Here we report initial RPO results, principally on background material, but also including secondary standards that are routinely analyzed at14CHRONO. A description of our setup, methodology, and background (blank) correction method for the system are provided. The backgrounds (anthracite, spar calcite, Pargas marble) reported by the system are in excess of 35,00014C years BP with a mean age of 39,34514C years BP (1σ = 36,497–43,800 years BP, N=44) with F14C = 0.0075 ± 0.0032. Initial results for standards are also in good agreement with consensus values: TIRI-B pine radiocarbon age = 4482 ± 47 years BP (N=13, consensus = 4508 years BP); IAEA-C6 ANU Sucrose F14C= 1.5036 ± 0.0034 (N=10, consensus F14C = 1.503). These initial tests have allowed problematic issues to be identified and improvements made for future analyses.
Highlights
The new Belfast Ramped Pyroxidation/Combustion (RPO/RC) facility was set up to provide analysis of archaeological and environmental samples
In ramped pyroxidation mode, Helium gas (99.999% purity) flows through the top of the reactor (35 mL/min) as the sample is heated in the absence of oxygen
F14C values are consistent with contamination ranging from approximately 0.2–0.8% modern CO2
Summary
The new Belfast Ramped Pyroxidation/Combustion (RPO/RC) facility was set up to provide analysis of archaeological and environmental (bulk) samples. Bulk material often has to undergo stringent pre-treatment procedures leading to loss of material and low carbon yields. Even with these intensive methods, the date may be younger or older than expected depending on the age of the individual fractions. RPO is a method that incrementally heats a bulk sample and allows for the separation of material into its composite fractions according to their thermal stability. By using RPO, we can acquire a profile of the CO2 produced over different temperature intervals, providing an indication of the composition of the bulk material as well as a suite of radiocarbon values from the respective individual
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