Proportional counting techniques for routine tritium analyses at environmental levels
Techniques and procedures were developed to routinely analyze samples for tritium as part of research and monitoring programs on the transport of radionuclides released from the Savannah River Plant site. Because tritium concentrations in the environment are low, trace analysis methods were developed. The primary analysis technique involves converting aqueous samples to hydrogen gas which is mixed with propane and assayed in proportional counters. Counter background is reduced by massive shielding, anticoincidence gating with plastic scintillators, and pulse shape discrimination. The overall sensitivity for tritium is 0.02 pCi/g of water with a demonstrated precision of 6.3% at 1 pCi/g of water.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- OSTI ID:
- 6605469
- Report Number(s):
- DP-MS-80-104; CONF-810409-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510302 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
520302* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Aquatic Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DESIGN
DETECTION
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOISOTOPES
SAMPLE PREPARATION
TRITIUM
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES