Ultra low-level tritium measurement using electrolytic enrichment and LSC†

^†Updated paper: originally presented on the IAEA International Symposium “Quality Assurance for Analytical Methods in Isotope Hydrology” (August 2004, Vienna).

Abstract

We describe an advanced methodology for low-level tritium measurement in regard to calibration, electrolytic tritium enrichment, liquid scintillation counting (LSC) measurement, and prevention of sample contamination. Details are given on enrichment parameters and electrode processes for optimisation of enrichment reproducibility and on optimisation of LSC stability. Intercomparison results demonstrate high accuracy of the tritium measurement system. The use of accurate tritium data for groundwater dating in the southern hemisphere is demonstrated with data from several groundwater systems of New Zealand.

^†Updated paper: originally presented on the IAEA International Symposium “Quality Assurance for Analytical Methods in Isotope Hydrology” (August 2004, Vienna).

Keywords:

• age distribution
• electrolytic tritium enrichment
• hydrogen-3
• IAEA
• isotope measurement methods and equipment
• liquid scintillation spectrometry
• low-level tritium analysis
• natural isotope abundance
• separation factor
• water dating

Notes

^†Updated paper: originally presented on the IAEA International Symposium “Quality Assurance for Analytical Methods in Isotope Hydrology” (August 2004, Vienna).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Claude B. Taylor

Deceased 26 August 2006.