Determination of Radon by Liquid Scintillation alpha/Beta Particle Spectrometry: Towards the Resolution of a 14C Dating Problem

Abstract

Traces of uranium and radium within the 14C sample generate radon (Rn) which gets occluded during the benzene synthesis, thus generating false (extra) counts within the 14C counting window. This, if undetected, gives rise to erroneous 14C age determinations. The application of simultaneous alpha and Beta liquid scintillation spectrometry will enable a mathematical evaluation of the 14C signal unaffected by alpha and Beta particle emissions from radon decay daughters.