Since the installation of the new accelerator at INFN-LABEC in Florence in 2004, the activity of the radiocarbon dating laboratory has progressively developed, requiring both an increase of the sample preparation throughput and a greater versatility to allow for the possibility of a larger variety in the treated materials. The “standard” sample preparation line is based on an Elemental Analyser (EA) for the combustion of the pre-treated samples, and on a vacuum line where the CO2 is collected and then converted to graphite according to the well-known Bosch reaction. This line has been recently redesigned maintaining the EA, since this instrument provides us reliable and fast sample combustion and separation of gases. The volumes were optimized and all the mechanical parts, e.g. the fittings, were changed in order to improve the vacuum level, thus decreasing the possibility of contamination; finally, the number of graphitization reactors was doubled (from 4 to 8). In those rare cases involving samples characterized by a complex nearly graphitic structure (e.g. burnt residues), the EA might not guarantee a complete combustion. For this kind of samples, we successfully tested the new sample preparation line that has been recently installed at LABEC and that is especially dedicated to aerosol samples. This line is equipped with a homemade combustion oven, heating up to 1000°C. The subsequent gas separation is accomplished by both chemical and thermal traps. As an example, the case of dating organic matter collected from an Etruscan bronze statue will be presented and discussed.

Status of sample combustion and graphitization lines at Infn-Labec, Florence / M.E. Fedi, V. Bernardoni, L. Caforio, G. Calzolai, L. Carraresi, M. Manetti, F. Taccetti, P.A. Mandò. - In: RADIOCARBON. - ISSN 0033-8222. - 55:2-3(2013), pp. 657-664.

Status of sample combustion and graphitization lines at Infn-Labec, Florence

V. Bernardoni;
2013

Abstract

Since the installation of the new accelerator at INFN-LABEC in Florence in 2004, the activity of the radiocarbon dating laboratory has progressively developed, requiring both an increase of the sample preparation throughput and a greater versatility to allow for the possibility of a larger variety in the treated materials. The “standard” sample preparation line is based on an Elemental Analyser (EA) for the combustion of the pre-treated samples, and on a vacuum line where the CO2 is collected and then converted to graphite according to the well-known Bosch reaction. This line has been recently redesigned maintaining the EA, since this instrument provides us reliable and fast sample combustion and separation of gases. The volumes were optimized and all the mechanical parts, e.g. the fittings, were changed in order to improve the vacuum level, thus decreasing the possibility of contamination; finally, the number of graphitization reactors was doubled (from 4 to 8). In those rare cases involving samples characterized by a complex nearly graphitic structure (e.g. burnt residues), the EA might not guarantee a complete combustion. For this kind of samples, we successfully tested the new sample preparation line that has been recently installed at LABEC and that is especially dedicated to aerosol samples. This line is equipped with a homemade combustion oven, heating up to 1000°C. The subsequent gas separation is accomplished by both chemical and thermal traps. As an example, the case of dating organic matter collected from an Etruscan bronze statue will be presented and discussed.
Aerosol samples; Bronze statue dating; Graphitization; Sample combustion
Settore FIS/07 - Fisica Applicata(Beni Culturali, Ambientali, Biol.e Medicin)
2013
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/229286
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