Lithium Contamination in AMS Measurements of 14C

Abstract

High count rates of lithium ions in an AMS measurement system for 14C were traced to the lithium content in the quartz tubes used in the graphitization of the samples. The lithium contamination was nearly eliminated by the use of borosilicate glass reaction tubes at a lower reaction temperature. The ion beam current and the measurement precision of the isotope ratio were not affected.