Influence of Different Acid Treatments on the Radiocarbon Content Spectrum of Sedimentary Organic Matter Determined by RPO/Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn practice, obtaining radiocarbon (14C) composition of organic matter (OM) in sediments requires first removing inorganic carbon (IC) by acid-treatment. Two common treatments are acid rinsing and fumigation. Resulting14C content obtained by different methods can differ, but underlying causes of these differences remain elusive. To assess the influence of different acid-treatments on14C content of sedimentary OM, we examine the variability in14C content for a range of marine and river sediments. By comparing results for unacidified and acidified sediments [HCl rinsing (RinseHCl) and HCl fumigation (FumeHCl)], we demonstrate that the two acid-treatments can affect14C content differentially. Our findings suggest that, for low-carbonate samples, RinseHClaffects the Fm values due to loss of young labile organic carbon (OC). FumeHClmakes the Fm values for labile OC decrease, leaving the residual OC older. High-carbonate samples can lose relatively old organic components during RinseHCl, causing the Fm values of remaining OC to increase. FumeHClcan remove thermally labile, usually young, OC and reduce the Fm values. We suggest three factors should be taken into account when using acid to remove carbonate from sediments: IC abundance, proportions of labile and refractory OC, and environmental matrix.