Exploring different methods of cellulose extraction for ¹⁴C dating.

Area of Science:

• Geochronology
• Paleoclimatology
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Radiocarbon dating (¹⁴C) is crucial for reconstructing past environments.
• Accurate cellulose extraction is vital for reliable ¹⁴C dating of wood.
• Previous cellulose extraction protocols vary in efficiency and suitability for diverse sample types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal cellulose extraction protocol for ¹⁴C dating of wood.
• To evaluate three common cellulose extraction methods (ABA-B, BABAB, 2Chlorox) for their effectiveness.
• To assess protocol performance on various wood species and preservation states, including glacial samples.

Main Methods:

• Twelve wood samples of different species and preservation states were analyzed.
• Cellulose was extracted using three distinct protocols: ABA-B, BABAB, and 2Chlorox.
• Extracted cellulose was graphitized and dated using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) at ETH Zurich.

Main Results:

• All three tested methods yielded extractable cellulose.
• The BABAB protocol, though more rigorous, provided sufficient cellulose for ¹⁴C dating.
• BABAB demonstrated superior reliability, particularly for very old and background (zero ¹⁴C) samples.

Conclusions:

• The BABAB cellulose extraction protocol is recommended for ¹⁴C dating of wood.
• This method ensures reliable dating results, especially for challenging ancient and background samples.
• Optimal cellulose extraction is key to advancing paleoclimatic reconstructions using radiocarbon-dated wood.