Radiocarbon measurements using new automated graphite preparation laboratory coupled with stable isotope mass-spectrometry at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow (India)

Conventional beta counting technique based radiocarbon dating facility at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences- Lucknow was established in 1974 (Rajagopalan,1978). In 2017-18, BSIP received an upgrade with installation of an Automated Graphitization Equipment (AGE) coupled with an Elemental Analyser, a Carbonate Handling System (CHS) along with an in-line stable isotope mass-spectrometer (IRMS). Using this combo, stable Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N) and Sulfur (S) isotopic measurements could be carried out in both organic and inorganic type samples followed by graphite preparation (similar to 1 mg) for C-14 measurement by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). This communication addresses details of pre-processing, processing, and quality checks adopted for achieving acceptable and demonstrable accuracy and precision of measured Delta C-14, delta C-13, delta N-15, and delta S-34 measurements. Information regarding chemical preparation of samples for aforesaid stable and radio isotopic analysis is provided in succinct manner. Overall, average coefficient of variation determining precision of our graphite powders for C-14 measurements is similar to 2.4%. The mean age of blank (anthracite) processed using established EA-IRMS-AGE unit comes as 42,100 +/- 300 years.