Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-14T12:34:09.778Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

RADIOCARBON DATING OF HIGHLY DEGRADED AND PROBLEMATIC FOSSIL WOOD: VERIFICATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS PREPARATION METHODS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2024

Maksymilian Jędrzejowski Open the ORCID record for Maksymilian Jędrzejowski [Opens in a new window] ,
Danuta J Michczyńska Open the ORCID record for Danuta J Michczyńska [Opens in a new window] ,
Marzena Kłusek Open the ORCID record for Marzena Kłusek [Opens in a new window] ,
Adam Michczyński Open the ORCID record for Adam Michczyński [Opens in a new window] ,
Fatima Pawełczyk Open the ORCID record for Fatima Pawełczyk [Opens in a new window] ,
Natalia Piotrowska Open the ORCID record for Natalia Piotrowska [Opens in a new window] ,
Karin Wyss Heeb  and
Irka Hajdas Open the ORCID record for Irka Hajdas [Opens in a new window]
Maksymilian Jędrzejowski
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics – CSE, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
Danuta J Michczyńska
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics – CSE, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
Marzena Kłusek
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics – CSE, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
Adam Michczyński*
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics – CSE, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
Fatima Pawełczyk
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics – CSE, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
Natalia Piotrowska
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics – CSE, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
Karin Wyss Heeb
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETHZ, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland Bern University of Applied Sciences, HKB, Bern 3027, Switzerland
Irka Hajdas
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETHZ, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
*
*Corresponding author: Email: Adam.Michczynski@polsl.pl
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper compares various wood pretreatment methods for highly degraded, and problematic fossil wood extracted from the opencast Szczerców site of the Bełchatów Lignite Mine in Central Poland. The study evaluates the pretreatment methods using both large samples (55–255 g, referred to as series A) and small samples (36–150 mg, referred to as series B). Additionally, all preparation methods were applied to medium-sized samples (approximately 3 g, referred to as series C) with solvent washes in the Soxhlet apparatus. Radiocarbon dating was conducted using the LSC technique (subseries A1) and the AMS technique (subseries A2, series B, and C). The effectiveness and utility of each pretreatment protocol were compared based on 14C measurements and FTIR analysis. Through the conducted research and a multi-criteria analysis, the most effective method for preparing old fossil wood was identified. Our experience indicates that an extended, multistage preparation of highly degraded fossil wood samples, with a 14C concentration near the detection limit of the radiocarbon method, may result in a significant increase in 14C content.

Keywords

alpha-cellulose14Cfossil woodFTIRholocellulosewood pretreatment methods
Type
Conference Paper
Information
Radiocarbon , First View , pp. 1 - 18
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of University of Arizona

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Selected Papers from the 24th Radiocarbon and 10th Radiocarbon & Archaeology International Conferences, Zurich, Switzerland, 11–16 Sept. 2022

References

REFERENCES

Awsiuk, R, Pazdur, MF. 1986. Regional Suess effect in the Upper Silesia urban area. Radiocarbon 28(2A):655–660. doi: 10.1017/s0033822200007852 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berger, R, Libby, WF. 1967. UCLA Radiocarbon Dates VI. Radiocarbon 9:477–504. doi: 10.1017/s0033822200000692 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brehm, N, Christl, M, Knowles, TDJ, Casanova, E, Evershed, RP, Adolphi, F, Muscheler, R, Synal, H-A, Mekhaldi, F, Paleari, CI, et al. 2022. Tree-rings reveal two strong solar proton events in 7176 and 5259 BCE. Nature Communications 13(1):1196. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28804-9 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Büntgen, U, Wacker, L, Galván, JD, Arnold, S, Arseneault, D, Baillie, M, Beer, J, Bernabei, M, Bleicher, N, Boswijk, G, et al. 2018. Tree rings reveal globally coherent signature of cosmogenic radiocarbon events in 774 and 993 CE. Nature Communications 9(1):3605. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06036-0 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Capano, M, Miramont, C, Guibal, F, Kromer, B, Tuna, T, Fagault, Y, Bard, E. 2018. Wood 14C dating with AixMICADAS: Methods and application to tree-ring sequences from the Younger Dryas event in the southern French Alps. Radiocarbon 60(1):51–74. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2017.83 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cercatillo, S, Friedrich, M, Kromer, B, Paleček, D, Talamo, S. 2021. Exploring different methods of cellulose extraction for 14C dating. New Journal of Chemistry 45(20):8936–8941. doi: 10.1039/D1NJ00290B CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colom, X, Carrillo, F, Nogués, F, Garriga, P. 2003. Structural analysis of photodegraded wood by means of FTIR spectroscopy. Polymer Degradation and Stability 80(3):543–549. doi: 10.1016/s0141-3910(03)00051-x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drobniak, A, Mastalerz, M. 2006. Chemical evolution of Miocene wood: Example from the Belchatow brown coal deposit, central Poland. International Journal of Coal Geology 66(3):157–178. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2005.06.004 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fan, M, Dai, D, Huang, B. 2012. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for Natural Fibres. Intech Open doi: 10.5772/35482 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fogtmann-Schulz, A, Kudsk, SGK, Adolphi, F, Karoff, C, Knudsen, MF, Loader, NJ, Muscheler, R, Trant, PLK, Østbø, SM, Olsen, J. 2021. Batch processing of tree-ring samples for radiocarbon analysis. Radiocarbon 63(1):77–89. doi: 10.1017/RDC.2020.119 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gaudinski, JB, Dawson, TE, Quideau, S, Schuur, EAG, Roden, JS, Trumbore, SE, Sandquist, DR, Oh, S-W, Wasylishen, RE. 2005. Comparative analysis of cellulose preparation techniques for use with 13C, 14C, and 18O isotopic measurements. Analytical Chemistry 77(22):7212–7224. doi: 10.1021/ac050548u CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gillespie, R. 2018. A novel cellulose-preparation method. Radiocarbon 61(1):131–139. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2018.65 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guerrieri, R, Maurizio Mencuccini, Sheppard LJ, Saurer, M, Perks, M, Levy, PM, Sutton, M, Borghetti, M, Grace, JR. 2011. The legacy of enhanced N and S deposition as revealed by the combined analysis of δ13C, δ18O and δ15N in tree rings. Global Change Biology 17(5):1946–1962. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02362.x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hajdas, I, Hendriks, L, Fontana, A, Monegato, G. 2017. Evaluation of preparation methods in radiocarbon dating of old wood. Radiocarbon 59(3):727–737. doi: 10.1017/RDC.2016.98 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Helle, G, Pauly, M, Heinrich, I, Schollän, K, Balanzategui, D, Schürheck, L. 2022. Stable isotope signatures of wood, its constituents and methods of cellulose extraction. In: Siegwolf RTW, Brooks JR, Roden J, Saurer M, editors. Stable Isotopes in Tree Rings. Tree Physiology, vol 8. Springer: Cham. p. 135–190. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-92698-4_5 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogg, A, Fifield, L, Turney, C, Palmer, J, Galbraith, R, Baillie, M. 2006. Dating ancient wood by high-sensitivity liquid scintillation counting and accelerator mass spectrometry—Pushing the boundaries. Quaternary Geochronology 1(4):241–248. doi: 10.1016/j.quageo.2006.11.001 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogg, AG, Cook, GT. 2022. Liquid scintillation counting (LSC)—past, present, and future. Radiocarbon 64(3):541–554. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2021.91 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogg, AG, Heaton, TJ, Hua, Q, Palmer, JG, Turney, CS, Southon, J, Bayliss, A, Blackwell, PG, Boswijk, G, Bronk Ramsey, C, et al. 2020. SHCal20 Southern Hemisphere Calibration, 0–55,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 62(4):759–778. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2020.59 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hood, D, Hatfield, R, Patrick, C, Stipp, J, Tamers, M, Leidl, R, Lyons, B, Polach, H, Robertson, S, Zhou, W. 1989. Radon elimination during benzene preparation for radiocarbon dating by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Radiocarbon 31(03):254–259. doi: 10.1017/s0033822200011760 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoper, ST, McCormac, FG, Hogg, AG, Higham, TFG, Head, MJ. 1997. Evaluation of wood pretreatments on oak and cedar. Radiocarbon 40(1):45–50. doi: 10.1017/S0033822200017860 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hua, Q, Turnbull, JC, Santos, GM, Rakowski, AZ, Ancapichún, S, De Pol-Holz, R, Hammer, S, Lehman, SJ, Levin, I, Miller, JB, et al. 2022. Atmospheric radiocarbon for the period 1950–2019. Radiocarbon. 64(4):723–745. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2021.95 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kłusek, M, Pawełczyk, S. 2014. Stable carbon isotope analysis of subfossil wood from Austrian Alps. Geochronometria. 41(4):400–408. doi: 10.2478/s13386-013-0168-8 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krąpiec, M, Rakowski, A, Pawlyta, J, Wiktorowski, D, Bolka, M. 2021. Absolute dendrochronological scale for pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from Ujście (NW Poland), dated using rapid atmospheric 14C changes. Radiocarbon 63(4):1205–1214. doi: 10.1017/RDC.2020.116 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kuitems, M, van der Plicht, J, Jansma, E. 2020. Wood from the Netherlands around the time of the Santorini Eruption dated by dendrochronology and radiocarbon. Radiocarbon 62(4):963–967. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2020.23 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Land, A, Kromer, B, Remmele, S, Brehm, N, Wacker, L. 2020. Complex imprint of solar variability on tree rings. Environmental Research Communications 2(10):101003. doi: 10.1088/2515-7620/abc063 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lange, TE, Nordby, JA, Murphy, PLO, Hodgins, GWL, Pearson, CL. 2019. A detailed investigation of pretreatment protocols for high precision radiocarbon measurements of annual tree-rings. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 455:230–233. doi: 10.1016/j.nimb.2019.01.011.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loader, NJ, Robertson, I, Barker, AC, Switsur, VR, Waterhouse, JS. 1997. An improved technique for the batch processing of small wholewood samples to α-cellulose. Chemical Geology. 136(3-4):313–317. doi: 10.1016/s0009-2541(96)00133-7 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martinez De La Torre, HA, Reyes, AV, Zazula, GD, Froese, DG, Jensen, BJL, Southon, JR. 2019. Permafrost-preserved wood and bone: Radiocarbon blanks from Yukon and Alaska. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 455:154–157. doi: 10.1016/j.nimb.2018.12.032 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Michczyńska, DJ, Krąpiec, M, Michczyński, A, Pawlyta, J, Goslar, T, Nawrocka, N, Piotrowska, N, Szychowska-Krąpiec, E, Waliszewska, B, Zborowska, M. 2018. Different pretreatment methods for 14C dating of Younger Dryas and Allerød pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.). Quaternary Geochronology 48:38–44. doi: 10.1016/j.quageo.2018.07.013 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miyake, F, Nagaya, K, Masuda, K, Nakamura, T. 2012. A signature of cosmic-ray increase in ad 774–775 from tree rings in Japan. Nature 486(7402):240–242. doi: 10.1038/nature11123 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miyake, F, Masuda, K, Nakamura, T. 2013. Another rapid event in the carbon-14 content of tree rings. Nature Communications 4(1). doi: 10.1038/ncomms2783 Google ScholarPubMed
Němec, M, Wacker, L, Gäggeler, H. 2010a. Optimization of the graphitization process at AGE-1. Radiocarbon 52(3):1380–1393. doi: 10.1017/S0033822200046464 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Němec, M, Wacker, L, Hajdas, I, Gäggeler, H. 2010b. Alternative methods for cellulose preparation for AMS measurement. Radiocarbon 52(3):1358–1370. doi: 10.1017/S0033822200046440 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Obst, JR, McMillan, NJ, Blanchette, RA, Christensen, DJ, Faix, O, Han, J, Kuster, T, Landucci, L, Newman, R, Pettersen, R, et al. 1991. Characterization of Canadian Arctic fossil woods. In: Christie RL, McMillan NJ, editors. Tertiary Fossil Forests of the Geodetic Hills Axel Heiberg Island, Arctic Archipelago. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 403. Canadian Government Publishing Centre: Ottawa. p. 123–146.Google Scholar
Pandey, KK, Pitman, AJ. 2003. FTIR studies of the changes in wood chemistry following decay by brown-rot and white-rot fungi. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 52(3):151–160. doi: 10.1016/s0964-8305(03)00052-0 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pandey, KK, Theagarajan, KS. 1997. Analysis of wood surfaces and ground wood by diffuse reflectance (DRIFT) and photoacoustic (PAS) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff 55(6):383–390. doi: 10.1007/s001070050251 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Panyushkina, I, Livina, V, Molnár, M, Varga, T, Jull, AJT. 2022. Scaling the 14C-excursion signal in multiple tree-ring series with dynamic time warping. Radiocarbon 64(6):1–9. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2022.25 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patrut, A, Karl, F, Lowy, DA, Mayne, DH, Elder, KE, Roberts, ML, McNichol, AP. 2010. Comparative AMS radiocarbon dating of pretreated versus non-pretreated tropical wood samples. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 268(7-8):910–913. doi: 10.1016/j.nimb.2009.10.062 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paul, D, Been, HA, Aerts-Bijma, AT, Meijer, HAJ. 2016. Contamination on AMS sample targets by modern carbon is inevitable. Radiocarbon 58(2):407–418. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2016.9 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pawełczyk, F, Hajdas, I, Sadykov, T, Blochin, J, Caspari, G. 2022. Comparing analysis of pretreatment methods of wood and bone materials for the chronology of peripheral burials at Tunnug 1, Tuva Republic, Russia. Radiocarbon 64(1):171–186. doi: 10.1017/RDC.2021.100 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pawlyta, J, Pazdur, A, Rakowski, AZ, Miller, BF, Harkness, DD. 1997. Commissioning of a Quantulus 1220™ liquid scintillation beta spectrometer for measuring 14C and 3H at natural abundance levels. Radiocarbon 40(1):201–209. doi: 10.1017/S0033822200018051 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pazdur, A, Fogtman, M, Michczyński, A, Pawlyta, J. 2003. Precision of 14C dating in Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory. FIRI programme. Geochronometria 22(1). 27–40.Google Scholar
Pearson, CL, Leavitt, SW, Kromer, B, Solanki, SK, Usoskin, I. 2021. Dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon 64(3):1–20. doi: 10.1017/rdc.2021.97 Google Scholar
Pettersen, RC. 1984. The chemical composition of wood. The chemistry of solid wood 207: 57–126. doi: 10.1021/ba-1984-0207.ch002 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Povinec, P, Šáró, Š, Chudý, M, Šeliga, M. 1968. The rapid method of carbon-14 counting in atmospheric carbon dioxide. The International Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 19(12):877–881. doi: 10.1016/0020-708x(68)90167-1 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rakowski, A, Krąpiec, M, Huels, M, Pawlyta, J, Hamann, C, Wiktorowski, D. 2019. Abrupt increase of radiocarbon concentration in 660 BC in tree rings from Grabie near Kraków (SE Poland). Radiocarbon 61(5):1327–1335. doi: 10.1017/RDC.2019.40 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richard, B, Quilès, F, Carteret, C, Brendel, O. 2014. Infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analysis to appraise α-cellulose extracted from wood for stable carbon isotope measurements. Chemical Geology. 381:168–179. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.05.010 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Santos, GM, Bird, MI, Pillans, B, Fifield, LK, Alloway, BV, Chappell, J, Hausladen, PA, Arneth, A. 2001. Radiocarbon dating of wood using different pretreatment procedures: application to the chronology of Rotoehu ash, New Zealand. Radiocarbon 43(2A):239–248. doi: 10.1017/s0033822200038066 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Santos, GM, Komatsu, ASY, Renteria, JM, Brandes, AFN, Leong, CA, Collado-Fabbri, S, De Pol-Holz, R. 2023. A universal approach to alpha-cellulose extraction for radiocarbon analysis of 14C-free to post-bomb ages. Quaternary Geochronology 74:101414. doi: 10.1016/j.quageo.2022.101414 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Santos, GM, Moore, RB, Southon, JR, Griffin, S, Hinger, E, Zhang, D. 2007. AMS 14C sample preparation at the KCCAMS/UCI Facility: status report and performance of small samples. Radiocarbon 49(2):255–269. doi: 10.1017/s0033822200042181 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Santos, GM, Ormsby, K. 2013. Behavioral variability in ABA chemical pretreatment close to the 14C age limit. Radiocarbon. 55(2):534–544. doi: 10.1017/S0033822200057660 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheppard, PR, Thompson, TL. 2000. Effect of extraction pretreatment on radial variation of nitrogen concentration in tree rings. Journal of Environmental Quality 29(6):2037–2042. doi: 10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900060042x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Southon, JR, Magana, AL. 2010. A comparison of cellulose extraction and ABA pretreatment methods for AMS 14C dating of ancient wood. Radiocarbon 52(3):1371–1379. doi: 10.1017/S0033822200046452 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Staff, RA, Reynard, L, Brock, F, Ramsey, CB. 2014. Wood pretreatment protocols and measurement of tree-ring standards at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU). Radiocarbon. 56(2):709–715. doi: 10.2458/56.17449 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stark, N, Yelle, D, Agarwal, U. 2016. Techniques for characterizing lignin. In: Omar, F, Sain, M, editors. Lignin in Polymer Composites. Amsterdam: Elsevier. p. 49–66. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-35565-0.00004-7 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, Quay, PD. 1981. Atmospheric 14C changes resulting from fossil fuel CO2 release and cosmic ray flux variability. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 53(3):349–362. doi: 10.1016/0012-821x(81)90040-6 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Synal, H-A, Stocker, M, Suter, M. 2007. MICADAS: A new compact radiocarbon AMS system. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 259(1):7–13. doi: 10.1016/j.nimb.2007.01.138 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turney, CSM, Fifield, LK, Hogg, AG, Palmer, JG, Hughen, K, Baillie, MGL, Galbraith, R, Ogden, J, Lorrey, A, Tims, SG, et al. 2010. The potential of New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) for testing the synchronicity of abrupt climate change during the Last Glacial Interval (60,000–11,700 years ago). Quaternary Science Reviews 29(27):3677–3682. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.08.017 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turney, C, Becerra-Valdivia, L, Sookdeo, A, Thomas, ZA, Palmer, J, Haines, HA, Cadd, H, Wacker, L, Baker, A, Andersen, MS, et al. 2021. Radiocarbon protocols and first intercomparison results from the Chronos 14Carbon-Cycle facility, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Radiocarbon. 63(3):1003–1023. doi: 10.1017/RDC.2021.23 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Usoskin, IG, Solanki, SK, Krivova, NA, Hofer, B, Kovaltsov, GA, Wacker, L, Brehm, N, Kromer, B. 2021. Solar cyclic activity over the last millennium reconstructed from annual 14C data. Astronomy & Astrophysics 649:A141. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202140711 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wacker, L, Bonani, G, Friedrich, M, Hajdas, I, Kromer, B, Němec, M, Ruff, M, Suter, M, Synal, H-A, Vockenhuber, C. 2010a. MICADAS: Routine and high-precision radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon 52(2):252–262. doi: 10.1017/s0033822200045288 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wacker, L, Němec, M, Bourquin, J. 2010b. A revolutionary graphitisation system: Fully automated, compact and simple. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 268(7):931–934. doi: 10.1016/j.nimb.2009.10.067 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Jędrzejowski et al. supplementary material

Jędrzejowski et al. supplementary material
Download Jędrzejowski et al. supplementary material(File)
File 48 MB