Analytical method for atmospheric tritium with a portable tritium sampling system

Abstract

A portable tritium sampler was developed for the stepwise collections of water vapour (HTO), hydrogen (HT) and hydrocarbons (CH₃T) in the atmosphere. First, water vapour was collected in an electronic cooler and an HTO collection column containing 400 g of molecular sieve. Next, dried air was introduced into an HT collection column containing 150 g of palladium catalyst. Hydrogen was then converted to water by catalytic oxidation at room temperature and the resultant water was immediately adsorbed on the molecular sieve bed supporting the catalyst. The remaining gas was finally introduced into a CH₃T collection column containing 100 g of molecular sieve through a platinum catalyst column, in which hydrocarbons were burnt at 400°C. The resultant water was adsorbed in the CH₃T collection column. The collection efficiencies of water in the HTO, HT and CH₃T collection columns were all estimated to be nearly 100%. This newly developed method was found to be useful for the routine tritium monitoring by applying it to actual air samples.