The effects of Paraloid B ‐72 and Butvar B ‐98 treatment and organic solvent removal on δ 13 C , δ 15 N , and δ 18 O values of collagen and hydroxyapatite in a modern bone

Bibliographic Data

ID8320217
AuthorsC A M France (0000-0001-9133-9058, Museum Conservation Institute, corresponding author), Jennifer Giaccai (0000-0001-7596-2755, Smithsonian Institution), Jennifer A Giaccai (Smithsonian Institution Freer Gallery of Art SW Washington, DC 20013), Charlotte R Doney (Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute Suitland MD 20746)
Year2015
Volume157
Issue2
Pages330-338
Publication date2015-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.22697
PMID25639211
OpenAlexW1926212816
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited50

Stable isotopes in bones are a powerful tool for diet, provenance, climate, and physiological reconstructions, but necessarily require well‐preserved specimens unaltered by postmortem diagenesis or conservation practices. This study examines the effects of Paraloid B‐72 and Butvar B‐98, two common consolidants used in field and museum conservation, on δ 13 C, δ 15 N, and δ 18 O values from bone collagen and hydroxyapatite. The effects of solvent removal (100% acetone, 100% ethanol, 9:1 acetone:xylenes, 9:1 ethanol:xylenes) and drying methods (ambient air, vacuum, oven drying at 80°C) were also examined to determine if bones treated with these consolidants can successfully be cleaned and used for stable isotope analyses. Results show that introduction of Paraloid B‐72 or Butvar B‐98 in 100% acetone or 100% ethanol, respectively, with subsequent removal by the same solvents and drying at 80°C facilitates the most successful removal of consolidants and solvents. The δ 13 C values in collagen, δ 15 N in collagen, δ 18 O in hydroxyapatite phosphate, and δ 13 C in hydroxyapatite structural carbonate were unaltered by treatments with Paraloid or Butvar and subsequent solvent removal. The δ 18 O in hydroxyapatite structural carbonate showed nonsystematic variability when bones were treated with Paraloid and Butvar, which is hypothesized to be a result of hydroxyl exchange when bones are exposed to consolidants in solution. It is therefore recommended that δ 18 O in hydroxyapatite structural carbonate should not be used in stable isotope studies if bones have been treated with Paraloid or Butvar. Am J Phys Anthropol 157:330–338, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Acetone · Carbonate · Ethanol · Nuclear chemistry · Radiochemistry · Solvent · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Chemistry · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Organic Chemistry

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub