title: Equilibrium and non-equilibrium partition of tritium between organics and tissue water of different biological systems.
abstract: The biological tritium fractionation factor, accompanying the equilibrium partition of tritium between the organic and the aqueous phases of the biosystem through isotope effects on the enzyme reactions of its metabolism, has been determined. The ratio (R) of the specific activities of organically bound tritium and tissue water tritium has been measured under special conditions to eliminate analytical as well as biological interfering effects that possibly alter the experimental R value. Two plant categories with distinct photosynthetic CO2-fixation pathways, adapted to their different water use efficiency, namely barley (C3 plant) and maize (C4 plant), have been compared in order to estimate the natural variation of the biological tritium fractionation factors among different biosystems.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Radiochemie, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baumgärtner
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology; D009681:Nuclear Fusion; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D014316:Tritium