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The Radiocarbon Content of Individual Lignin-Derived Phenols: Technique and Initial Results

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

A P McNichol*
Affiliation:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
J R Ertel
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
T I Eglinton
Affiliation:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
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Abstract

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We present a method for the isolation of phenolic compounds derived from lignin for radiocarbon analysis. These phenols are generated by chemical oxidation of polymeric materials and derivatized for separation and recovery by preparative capillary gas chromatography (PCGC). This technique yields tens of micrograms of pure, stable compounds that can be converted to graphite and analyzed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Analysis of model flavor compounds and dated woods indicates that, in most cases, the radiocarbon (14C) contents of the individual compounds, corrected for the contribution of the derivative, agree with that of the bulk material to within 20%.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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