Obtaining Black Carbon—A Simple Method for the Safe Removal of Mineral Components from Soils and Archaeological Layers |
| |
| Authors: | V Bartůněk K Dobrovolný M Švecová P Matějka P Šída P Pokorný M Kuchař E Černá |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 6, Czech Republic;2. Department of Power Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 6, Czech Republic;3. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 6, Czech Republic;4. Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 6, Czech Republic;5. Department of Archaeology, University of Western Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic;6. Center for Theoretical Study, Charles University in Prague and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague 1, Czech Republic;7. Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 6, Czech Republic;8. Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 6, Czech Republic;9. Institute for Research and Preservation of Archeological Monuments of Northwest Bohemia, Most, Czech Republic |
| |
| Abstract: | In this study, we present a novel, safe method for how to remove inorganic components from soil samples studied for archaeological purposes, in order to improve studies of the distribution of black carbon in the sedimentary record. As the depositional history of this material depends on the interaction between humans and the natural environment, this method can be widely used in archaeology, landscape archaeology, palaeoecology, environmental geology and sedimentology. Our method does not require the use of dangerous hydrofluoric acid, which is commonly used for the removal of silicon oxide from such samples; therefore, this procedure allows even less chemically trained scientists to analyse soil samples with an increased level of work safety. |
| |
| Keywords: | Archaeometry Black Carbon Fire History Hydrofluoric Acid BMIMPF6 Ionic Liquid Soil |
|
|
