Carbon 14 dosage (dating)

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

Beyond archaeology and paleontology, this technique is now widely used in the 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 diet. When the organism dies, its supply of carbon-14 ceases, and the radioactive isotope begins to decay with a half-life of about 5,730 years .

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

This approach allows:

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

Analytical method: accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)

Carbon 14 measurement is based on accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) , a very high-precision technique that can detect tiny traces of the isotope.

• High sensitivity : quantification of carbon 14 even at very low concentrations.
• Increased accuracy : reliable dating up to 50,000 years ago.
• 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 find applications in many fields:

• Archaeology and paleontology : dating of remains, skeletons, charcoal, bones and ancient textiles.
• Geology and environment : study of soils, peat, sediments and paleoclimates.
• Food industry : traceability of sugars, flavorings, natural extracts and detection of falsifications (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 determination can be carried out 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 meets strategic needs:

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

YesWeLab support for your carbon 14 analyses

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

With YesWeLab, you benefit from:

• Simplified online submission of your samples
• Real-time monitoring of your requests
• Fast results that meet international standards

Our scientific team advises you in choosing the analytical protocols best suited to your samples and your objectives.

Related analyses

• Study of the authenticity of natural aromas
• Sugar analysis