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Progress in Radiocarbon Target Preparation at the Antares AMS Centre

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Q Hua ,
G E Jacobsen ,
U Zoppi ,
E M Lawson ,
A A Williams ,
A M Smith  and
M J McGann
Q Hua*
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
G E Jacobsen
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
U Zoppi
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
E M Lawson
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
A A Williams
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
A M Smith
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
M J McGann
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
*
Corresponding author. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

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We present routine methods of target preparation for radiocarbon analysis at the ANTARES Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) Centre, as well as recent developments which have decreased our procedural blank level and improved our ability to process small samples containing less than 200 μg of carbon. Routine methods of 14C sample preparation include sample pretreatment, CO2 extraction (combustion, hydrolysis and water stripping) and conversion to graphite (graphitization). A new method of cleaning glassware and reagents used in sample processing, by baking them under a stream of oxygen, is described. The results show significant improvements in our procedural blanks. In addition, a new graphitization system dedicated to small samples, using H2/Fe reduction of CO2, has been commissioned. The technical details of this system, the graphite yield and the level of fractionation of the targets are discussed.

Type
I. Becoming Better
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 43 , Issue 2A: Proceedings of the 17th International Radiocarbon Conference (Part 1 of 3) , 2001 , pp. 275 - 282
Copyright
Copyright © The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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