Different methods for tritium determination in surface water by LSC

The main aim of this paper was to compare different methods of preparing water samples for tritium analysis by ultra-low-level background liquid scintillation counter, Quantulus 1220. Three methods of sample preparation for low-level tritium measurement have been implemented in the Nuclear Physics Laboratory in Novi Sad: electrolytic enrichment, direct method without electrolytic enrichment and sample Oxidizer 307 method. The examined fresh water samples were rainfall collected during 6 months and water from a stream in the Vinča nuclear research center collected over 3 months. The obtained results using these three methods showed satisfying agreement. The appropriate measuring time by LSC for each sample prepared according to different methods has been determined.

► 3 methods of water sample preparation for low-level tritium measurement have been compared. ► All prepared samples were measured by LSC Quantulus 1220. ► The most novel is that Sample Oxidizer is used as one method for sample preparation. ► Paper presents MDA values for each presented method. ► For environmental monitoring all three methods give comparable results.