Improvements to sample processing and measurement to enable more widespread environmental application of tritium

Previous measurements have demonstrated the wealth of information that tritium (T) can provide on environmentally relevant processes. We present modifications to sample preparation approaches that enable T measurement by proportional counting on small sample sizes equivalent to 120mg of water and de...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied radiation and isotopes 2017-08, Vol.126, p.61-65
Main Authors: Moran, James, Alexander, Thomas, Aalseth, Craig, Back, Henning, Mace, Emily, Overman, Cory, Seifert, Allen, Freeburg, Wilcox
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
Low background
Organically bound tritium
Proportional counter
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Summary:Previous measurements have demonstrated the wealth of information that tritium (T) can provide on environmentally relevant processes. We present modifications to sample preparation approaches that enable T measurement by proportional counting on small sample sizes equivalent to 120mg of water and demonstrate the accuracy of these methods on a suite of standardized water samples. We identify a current quantification limit of 92.2 TU which, combined with our small sample sizes, correlates to as little as 0.00133Bq of total T activity. This enhanced method should provide the analytical flexibility needed to address persistent knowledge gaps in our understanding of both natural and artificial T behavior in the environment. •Water conversion to methane for tritium measurement by proportional counting.•Accurate tritium measurements from 120mg water sample sizes.•Provides sensitivity to expand tritium analysis to answer environmental questions.
ISSN:0969-8043
1872-9800
DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.01.033