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

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Applied Radiation and Isotopes

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.01.033· OSTI ID:1367383

Moran, James; Alexander, Thomas; Aalseth, Craig; Back, Henning; Mace, Emily; Overman, Cory; Seifert, Allen; Freeburg, Wilcox

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 120 mg of water and demonstrate the accuracy of these methods on a suite of standardized water samples. This enhanced method should provide the analytical flexibility needed to address persistent knowledge gaps in our understanding of T behavior in the environment.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1367383
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-120318
• Journal Information: Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 126; ISSN 0969-8043
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

proportional counter
organically bound tritium
low background