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Isotopic Fractionation of NBS Oxalic 14C Standard and Its Effect on Calculated Age of Materials
Abstract
There is much controversy about the significance to radiocarbon dating
of isotopic fractionation during the oxidation to CO2 of NBS oxalic acid, the carbon-14 dating standard. To check the effect of fractionation, 30 routine potassium permanganate oxidations of oxalic acid were performed. The isotopic composition of resulting CO2 was determined mass-spectrometrically. 4130 results ranged between -17.7 and
-21.2, with an average of -18.9% wrt
PDB.U The effect of not applying an isotopic fractionation correction to NBS oxalic acid when performing age calculations is evaluated.
of isotopic fractionation during the oxidation to CO2 of NBS oxalic acid, the carbon-14 dating standard. To check the effect of fractionation, 30 routine potassium permanganate oxidations of oxalic acid were performed. The isotopic composition of resulting CO2 was determined mass-spectrometrically. 4130 results ranged between -17.7 and
-21.2, with an average of -18.9% wrt
PDB.U The effect of not applying an isotopic fractionation correction to NBS oxalic acid when performing age calculations is evaluated.