Low-level 14C measurements and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Journal Article · Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2060452· OSTI ID:20719246

Litherland, A E; Beukens, R P; Zhao, X -L; Kieser, W E ^[1]; Gove, H E ^[1]

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1. IsoTrace Laboratory, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A7 (Canada)

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and isotope enrichment were used in 1991 to estimate that the 14C content of methane in natural gas was {<=}1.6x10-18 of the total carbon. The low content of 14C in underground hydrocarbons was verified later in the remarkable results from the Borexino test scintillation counter for solar neutrino studies. Since then studies of the 14C background problem have demonstrated that much of the background originally observed in the AMS measurements can, in principle, be eliminated. However, many difficulties and other backgrounds are to be faced as the limit for AMS is pushed still further towards possibly a ratio of < 10-21. These will be discussed.

• OSTI ID: 20719246
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 785, Issue 1; Conference: LRT 2004: Topical workshop on low radioactivity techniques, Sudbury, ON (Canada), 12-14 Dec 2004; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2060452; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ACCELERATORS
CARBON
CARBON 14
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SOLAR NEUTRINOS