An analytical method for 14C in environmental water based on a wet-oxidation process

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Accurate measurement of carbon-14 ((14)C) in environmental water is crucial for monitoring.
• Existing methods may have limitations in sensitivity or scope for diverse water matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a robust analytical method for determining (14)C activity concentrations in environmental water.
• To establish a method capable of measuring both organic and inorganic (14)C forms, as well as total (14)C.

Main Methods:

• A wet-oxidation process was employed to convert organic carbon to inorganic carbon.
• Inorganic (14)C was extracted via acidification and nitrogen purging.
• Measurements were performed using a low-level liquid scintillation counter (LSC).

Main Results:

• The method demonstrated excellent recovery rates for both inorganic carbon (98.7%-99.0%) and organic carbon (93.8%-100.0%).
• A detection limit of approximately 0.02 Bq/g(C) was achieved for water with >15 mg(C)/L, below natural environmental levels.
• The method was validated for environmental water and shown to be applicable to liquid effluents from nuclear facilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed wet-oxidation method provides a sensitive and reliable approach for (14)C analysis in various environmental water types.
• The method's high recovery rates and low detection limit ensure accurate quantification of (14)C.
• This technique is suitable for routine environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance, including nuclear facility effluent analysis.