The Assay of Tritium in Biological Material by Wet Oxidation with Perchloric Acid followed by Liquid Scintillation Counting

Abstract

A method is described for preparing biological specimens for tritium assay by liquid scintillation counting. The method depends on oxidation by a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acids. Tritiated water mixed with acids is distilled from this reaction vessel, the acid distillate is neutralized with ammonium hydroxide and incorporated in a liquid scintillator based on toluene and ethyl alcohol. Results of recovery experiments with known amounts of tritium are presented.