Simultaneous measurement of tritium and radiocarbon by ultra-low-background proportional counting

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2017 · Applied Radiation and Isotopes

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2016.12.033· OSTI ID:1371987

Mace, Emily; Aalseth, Craig; Alexander, Tom; Back, Henning; Day, Anthony; Hoppe, Eric; Keillor, Martin; Moran, Jim; Overman, Cory; Panisko, Mark; Seifert, Allen

Use of ultra-low-background capabilities at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory provide enhanced sensitivity for measurement of low-activity sources of tritium and radiocarbon using proportional counters. Tritium levels are nearly back to pre-nuclear test backgrounds (~2-8 TU in rainwater), which can complicate their dual measurement with radiocarbon due to overlap in the isotope’s respective energy spectra. This activity makes direct dual-isotope measurements challenging without additional chemistry to concentrate the tritium in a sample. We present results of single-isotope proportional counter measurements used to analyze a dual-isotope methane sample synthesized from ~120 mg of H2O and present sensitivity results.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1371987
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-120393
• Journal Information: Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Journal Name: Applied Radiation and Isotopes Journal Issue: C Vol. 126; ISSN 0969-8043
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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