Technical note: Examining the use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid for humic extraction of ancient bone

Abstract We examined the efficacy of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for removing humic contaminants from collagen extracted ancient bone. Humic must be removed to obtain reliable stable isotope values bone collagen, given that acids have consistently lower δ 13 C than collagen. The purpose our research was examine if EDTA treatment could effectively remove and thus serve as an alternative commonly implemented sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment, which may associated with large losses in poorly preserved samples. compared isotopic elemental composition samples treated alone, demineralized hydrochloric (HCl) rinsed EDTA, HCl NaOH. used analyses were selected because they presented evidence substantial contamination. found NaOH most effective agent reducing evidenced by this having higher C:N ratios relative other treatments. results suggest chemical cannot these had significantly 15 N HCl/NaOH treatment. Our demonstrate when performing analysis suspected contaminated acids, is contaminants, while perform task.