Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Preface
- PART I THE ROLE OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY IN ARCHAEOLOGY
- PART II THE APPLICATION OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY TO ARCHAEOLOGY
- PART III SOME BASIC CHEMISTRY FOR ARCHAEOLOGISTS
- Epilogue
- Appendices
- I Scientific notation
- II Significant figures
- III Seven basic SI units
- IV Physical constants
- V Greek notation
- VI Chemical symbols and isotopes of the elements
- VII Electronic configuration of the elements (to radon, Z = 86)
- VIII Some common inorganic and organic sample preparation methods used in archaeology
- IX General safe practice in the laboratory
- X COSHH assessments
- References
- Index
VIII - Some common inorganic and organic sample preparation methods used in archaeology
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Preface
- PART I THE ROLE OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY IN ARCHAEOLOGY
- PART II THE APPLICATION OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY TO ARCHAEOLOGY
- PART III SOME BASIC CHEMISTRY FOR ARCHAEOLOGISTS
- Epilogue
- Appendices
- I Scientific notation
- II Significant figures
- III Seven basic SI units
- IV Physical constants
- V Greek notation
- VI Chemical symbols and isotopes of the elements
- VII Electronic configuration of the elements (to radon, Z = 86)
- VIII Some common inorganic and organic sample preparation methods used in archaeology
- IX General safe practice in the laboratory
- X COSHH assessments
- References
- Index
Summary
This appendix describes briefly the dissolution procedures for some of the more common inorganic sample types. The use of an internal standard is discussed in Section 13.3.
Acidification for the preparation of water samples
Water samples are amongst the simplest to prepare, simply requiring acidification to keep the sample elements in solution and to matrix-match with the calibration solutions, and the addition of an internal standard. The procedure is as follows.
Centrifugation or filtration to remove suspended particles
Add 2 ml of super purity acid (SPA) (or equivalent) nitric acid
Add internal standard
Make up to 100 ml in volumetric flask.
Open vessel digestion (HNO3) for bones, teeth, hair, and soil
This is a standard preparation for most organic samples. In the case of soils, nitric acid will not fully dissolve all of the sample, but this method is sufficient to examine the total “available” elements.
Accurately weigh c. 0.1g of finely powdered sample in Teflon beaker
Add 2 ml of SPA nitric acid
Heat gently until digested
Allow to cool
Add internal standard
Make up to 100 ml in volumetric flask.
Open vessel digestion (HF:HClO4) for ceramics, glass, rocks, and soil
These acids should completely dissolve most materials. HF removes the silica (as volatile SiF4), which reduces the total dissolved solid content and therefore reduces interferences, and ClO4− produces perchlorates, which are soluble (but explosive if dried out). The use of hydrofluoric and perchloric acids therefore has considerable safety risks and requires specialized fume hoods, handling equipment, and safety equipment.
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- Information
- Analytical Chemistry in Archaeology , pp. 337 - 339Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007