Carbon-14 dating

Carbon -14 (¹⁴C) is a radioactive isotope naturally present in organic matter. Its measurement forms the basis of radiocarbon dating , a reference method for estimating the age of organic samples up to approximately 50,000 years old .

Beyond archaeology and paleontology, this technique is now widely used in the agri-food , nutrition , medicinal plant and industrial traceability to verify the origin and authenticity of raw materials.

Principle of carbon-14 dating

Carbon-14 is produced naturally in the atmosphere and incorporated by living organisms through photosynthesis or food. When the organism dies, its supply of carbon-14 ceases, and the radioactive isotope begins to decay with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years .

By measuring the residual concentration of carbon-14 in a sample and comparing it to atmospheric reference levels, it is possible to determine its age.

This approach allows:

• To accurately date organic remains (plants, wood, bones, textiles, leather).
• To verify the authenticity of raw food or nutraceutical materials (e.g., detection of fraud or adulteration).
• To differentiate between compounds of natural and those derived from petrochemical synthesis .

Analytical method: Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)

Carbon-14 analysis relies on accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) , a very high-precision technique that allows the detection of minute traces of the isotope.

• High sensitivity : quantification of carbon-14 even at very low concentrations.
• Increased accuracy : reliable dating up to 50,000 years.
• Modern applications : distinction between biogenic carbon and fossil carbon, useful in industrial and environmental sectors.

Sectors concerned by carbon-14 analysis

Carbon-14 dating and isotopic analysis have applications in many fields:

• Archaeology and paleontology : dating of remains, skeletons, charcoal, bones and ancient textiles.
• Geology and environment : study of soils, peats, sediments and paleoclimates.
• Agri-food : traceability of sugars, flavourings, natural extracts and detection of adulteration (e.g. addition of sugars from petrochemicals).
• Nutraceuticals and plants : validation of the natural origin of plant extracts and control of the authenticity of active ingredients.
• Pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry : verification of biogenic carbon content in formulations.

Typically analyzed matrices

Carbon-14 analysis can be performed on a wide variety of organic matrices:

• Wood, coal, textile fibers and paper
• Biological remains (bones, teeth, shells, tissues)
• Food products (sugars, flavorings, plant extracts)
• Nutraceutical supplements and natural ingredients
• Cosmetic products claiming a natural origin
• Soils, peats and geological sediments

Quality and regulatory issues

Carbon-14 isotopic analysis addresses strategic needs:

• Authenticity : verify that the ingredients are indeed of natural origin.
• Traceability : securing agri-food and nutraceutical supply chains.
• Fraud detection : identifying the addition of synthetic compounds derived from petrochemicals.
• Scientific research : contributing to historical and environmental dating.
• Compliance : meeting regulatory requirements for labeling and certification.

YesWeLab support for your carbon-14 analyses

YesWeLab makes available its network of specialized accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratories , accredited and certified (ISO 17025, COFRAC), capable of providing reliable and usable results in scientific, industrial and regulatory contexts.

With YesWeLab, you benefit from:

• A simplified online submission of your samples
• Real-time tracking of your requests
• results that meet international standards

Our scientific team will advise you on the choice of analytical protocols best suited to your samples and objectives.

Related analyses

• Study of the authenticity of natural aromas
• Sugar analysis