title: Ultra low-level tritium measurement using electrolytic enrichment and LSC.
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.
authors.affiliation: GNS Science, National Isotope Centre, New Zealand. u.morgenstern@gns.cri.nz
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Morgenstern
authors.forename: Claude B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D004572:Electrolysis; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D009520:New Zealand; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012588:Scintillation Counting; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014316:Tritium / Q000032:analysis*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D014316:Tritium