Dear Cecilia
Paraloid B-72 is common museum conservation consolidant. Conservators
generally regard it as one of the most easily reversed consolidation
treatments, as it does not cross-link or degrade in normal museum
conditions. It is usually recommended to be removed using acetone, which
should not cause much damage to the aDNA, but it is also soluble in a
range of other solvents, see, for example, the list at
http://www.archivalaids.co.uk/smx/products/paraloid/
I think if I had this problem, my approach would be to try soaking the
bone in acetone, and if that did not work to try extracting the Paraloid
using acetone in a soxhlet apparatus.
Best wishes
Andrew
--
Dr. Andrew Millard [log in to unmask]
Durham University
Senior Lecturer in Archaeology Tel: +44 191 334 1147
Deputy Director of Combined Honours Tel: +44 191 334 3006
Archaeology: http://www.dur.ac.uk/archaeology/
Combined Honours: http://www.dur.ac.uk/combined.honours/
Personal webpage: http://www.dur.ac.uk/a.r.millard/
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ancient DNA List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Cecilia Sosa
> Sent: 29 Oct 2008 16:43
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [ANCIENT-DNA] PTB
>
> Dear all,
>
> I am having trouble extracting DNA from some 1000yr bone
> samples that have
> been treated (20 yrs ago) with Paraloid B72 (ethy
> methacrylate co-polymer,
> also known as Acryloid B72).
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this?
>
> In the last Conference on Ancient DNA and Assoc. Biomolecules, Helen
> Donoghue suggested that I tried PTB, which would disrupt any
> cross-link, in
> the case that was the problem. I think it is worth trying it,
> but cannot find this
> product.
>
> Does anyone know where this 'strange chemical' can be purchased?
>
> And does anyone have other suggestions/ideas?
>
> Thank you very much,
>
> Cecilia Sosa
>
|