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Preparation of water samples for carbon-14 dating

H.R. Feltz·Bruce B. Hanshaw
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Abstract

For most natural water, a large sample is required to provide the 3 grams of carbon needed for a carbon-14 determination. A field procedure for isolating total dissolved-carbonate species is described. Carbon dioxide gas is evolved by adding sulfuric acid to the water sample; the gas is then collected in a sodium hydroxide trap by recycling in a closed system. The trap is then transported to the dating laboratory where the carbon-14 is counted.

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H.R. Feltz, Bruce B. Hanshaw. 1963. Preparation of water samples for carbon-14 dating. https://doi.org/10.3133/cir480

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