Low-level measurement of tritium by hydrogenation of propadiene and gas counting of propane

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Abstract

A new method for low-level measurement of tritium (3H) in water is reported. In this method, a 10 or 20 ml water sample is reduced with magnesium turnings in a furnace at 570°C. The resulting hydrogen is reacted with propadiene to propane in the presence of a catalyst. The 3H concentration in the propane is counted in a 2.61 proportional counter at a pressure of 2 or 4 bars, respectively. With total measuring times up to 8500 min per sample, an experimental detection limit down to 1 TU (≜ 3.2 pCi3H/liter H2O) and 3H standard reproducibilities of 1% were attained. After 20-fold electrolytic enrichment of 3H in water, the experimental detection limit can be lowered to ≤ 0.1 TU.

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