Laboratory process

In our laboratory, samples are inspected, mechanically cleaned, and the method for further processing is determined, which involves pre-treatment aimed at isolating and purifying the datable chemical form of carbon from the sample.

Parts of the procedures vary depending on the type of material and the sample's weight. The isolated and purified datable form, e.g. collagen, is burned after drying, and the resulting CO₂ is purified and dried. Subsequently, the CO₂ is reduced, in our case using clean zinc, to form graphite.

The graphite is then pressed in aluminum cathodes and analyzed using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS).