Meredith, W., Ascough, P.L., Snape, C.E., Large, D.J., Bird, M.I., Brock, F., Higham, T.F.G., Wood, R.E., and Vane, C.H. (2009) Hydropyrolysis as a method for radiocarbon pre-treatment, and the quantification of black carbon. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73 (13). A872-A872.

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Abstract

Within the pyrolysis continuum, black carbon (BC) is defined as having both high aromaticity and high resistance to oxidative degradation, although as yet there is currently no accepted standard methodology for its determination [1]. Hydropyrolysis (hypy) has been recently reported as a new method for BC quantifiaction [2], which is also of great interest in radiocarbon measurement. Here, we test hypy as a method of BC isolation for both quantification and dating purposes, using a selection of standard soil samples and ancient charcoals, including some previously tested by a variety of methods as part of the recent BC ring trail [1]. Fig. 1 shows a trend of decreasing TOC for soil hypy residues up to 550°C This corresponds to the reductive removal of carbon from the labile (i.e. non-BC) organic matter in the soil (A), and is followed by a plateau in TOC representing the BC content (B), and a further decrease due to hydrogasification (C). For a sample of contaminated charcoal the removal of lignocellulosic carbon is apparent from the NMR data shown.

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