The tritium laboratory at CAIS consists of two Wallac Quantulus ultra-low background LS counters and two electrolytic units capable of enriching 24 water samples simultaneously. An active guard detector on each Quantulus counter serves to lower the tritium background to as little as 0.4 cpm. Unlike gas proportional counters, the LS counters allow the measurement of tritium in enriched water without converting it to hydrogen-tritium gas. Tritium enrichment services are available on a fee basis to all interested parties. A summary of services, terms, conditions, and costs will be provided upon request.
Quantity discounts are negotiable.
Tritium enrichment analyses usually require between 5 and 10 days. As an aid to the client, the CAIS will screen each sample for tritium using standard LS counting techniques to determine if enrichment is needed. Paper describes a practical way to decide if tritium enrichment is required. J.D. Spaulding, J.E. Noakes, and R.A. Culp, 1997. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 45 .