Applying the Direct Absorption Method and LSC for 14C Concentration Measurement in Aqueous Samples

Abstract

We investigated a simple, reliable radiocarbon measurement procedure for water samples using the direct absorption method for sample preparation, followed by low-level liquid scintillation spectrometry. This process has involved quantitative evaluation of the conversion steps in order to estimate the appropriate working parameters. The 14C activity of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) for several types of water (ranging from seawater to groundwater) has been measured, paying attention to the preparation requirements of each type of water. The main advantage of this method is the simplified sample preparation, allowing measurement of a great number of samples in less time. This method was designed for routine analysis of water samples, and it is proposed particularly for use in 14C monitoring programs of CANDU-type reactors.