Detection of Alkylated Cellulose Derivatives in Several Archaeological Linen Textile Samples by Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The authors regret that, during preparation of the above paper, 17 paragraphs found originally in refs 4-6 and 10 were included in our text without special quotations that would make it clear that the wording used was taken without significant change from those references. We wish to acknowledge the wording of these previous authors.

Effects of fires and biofractionation of carbon isotopes on results of radiocarbon dating of old textiles: the Shroud of Turin

“…In our opinion, the optimal way to carry out efficient comparisons between cellulose sequences from many different textile samples is to compare the HPLC or electrophoretic patterns obtained as a result of fractionation of low molecular weight compounds (nonmodified and modified --glucose, plus cellobiose) from the enzymatically digested cellulose pool isolated from the textiles being studied (Kouznetsov et al, 1993;1994). Thus, a combination of capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry should be a very efficient approach for this kind of research; capillary electrophoresis provides significant separation efficiency and high analytical speed for a broad range of substances in solution, while mass spectrometry provides peak identification.…”

“…In a separate series of experiments, similar but less reproducible data were obtained using the routine UV-detection at 190 nm; this kind of detection is possible since the borate was found to induce a red shift in the quartz UV absorption profile of the saccharides (Kouznetsov, Ivanov & Veletsky, 1994).…”

“…Nevertheless, radiocarbon dating can be a useful approach to old textile studies as a part of multidisciplinary research programs which include arthistorical dating and chemometric investigations (Kouznetsov et al, 1994). Art historians have dated textiles based on their designs.…”

Analyte identification in capillary electrophoretic separation techniques

“…In wastewater, dyes spiked at 5 mg/L could be determined. Dye compounds could also be identified in archaeological textiles after enzymatic hydrolysis [300]. Sulfonylurea herbicides were determined in soil with CE-MS and CE-MS-MS [301], showing detection limits as low as 30 fmol, and quaternary ammonium herbicides could be analyzed in drinking water down to 5-100 pg/L [302].…”

The amazing Dr Kouznetsov

“…However, with the financial assistance of a wealthy French creationist, Kouznetsov had been pursuing other lines -attempting to disprove the carbon-dating of the Turin Shroud and developing an alternative method of dating old textiles. In 1994 he succeeded in publishing a technical paper in Analytical Chemistry (Kouznetsov et al 1994), and two modified versions were later published in other journals (Kouznetsov et al 1996a, c). Also in 1994, Kouznetsov sent me a copy of one of his unpublished papers along with a handwritten letter with lots of doodles and funny-looking characters drawn in the margins.…”