> From: Dana Biasatti [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 23 September 2013 21:06
> 
> Is it possible to use a solvent such as toluene to dissolve epoxy from
> bone (otoliths) without affecting its isotopic composition? d13C and
> d18O are being determined.

Otoliths are calcium carbonate not bone. Epoxy should not produce any CO2 on reaction with phosphoric acid, so I think you should be able simply to dissolve them in the usual way, unless the epoxy is completely coating the otoliths. It might be worth doing some tests first on pure epoxy.

Best wishes

Andrew
--
 Dr. Andrew Millard 
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   w: http://www.dur.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/?id=160
 Senior Lecturer in Archaeology, Durham University, UK