42438
Accession Number
38415
Title Of Article Chaper
Brief Communication: The Effects of Paraloid B-72 and Butvar B-98 Treatment and Organic Solvent Removal on [delta]13C, [delta]15N, and [delta]18O Values of Collagen and Hydroxyapatite in a Modern Bone
Title Of Journal Book
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Collation
9 p. : ills.
Reference Bibliography
Includes bibliographic references
Language Of Text
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
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 d13C, d15N, and d18O 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[degree]C facilitates the most successful removal of consolidants and solvents. The d13C values in collagen, d15N in collagen, d18O in hydroxyapatite phosphate, and d13C in hydroxyapatite structural carbonate were unaltered by treatments with Paraloid or Butvar and subsequent solvent removal. The d18O 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 d18O in hydroxyapatite structural carbonate should not be used in stable isotope studies if bones have been treated with Paraloid or Butvar.
Keywords
paraloid;butvar;treatment;organic;solvent;removal;collagen;hydroxyapatite;bone
pub_id
42438