Apparatus and method for preparing samples for radiocarbon dating
OwnerBalthazar Verhageninventor
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for preparing samples of carbon dioxide with a 14C content for analysis in liquid scintillation counting equipment, the sample being of a known mass and being introduced into and substantially wholly absorbed into an absorption “cocktail”, absorption being completed at a stage before saturation of the absorbent occurs. The absorbent is contained in a vial which, when absorption has been completed, is transferred into the scintillation counting equipment without intermediate transfer of the contents.
Claims18
A method of preparing a quantity of gaseous carbon dioxide for analysis by a scintillation spectrometer, comprising:
- providing a sample of predetermined mass of gaseous carbon dioxide;
- providing an absorbent in a mass sufficient to absorb more than the whole of the sample of carbon dioxide;
- introducing the sample of carbon dioxide into the absorbent;
- causing substantially the whole of the sample of carbon dioxide to be absorbed by the absorbent, so that absorption is completed without the absorbent becoming saturated.
An apparatus for preparing a sample containing carbon dioxide for analysis by a scintillation spectrometer, comprising:
- a vessel for holding a sample of gaseous carbon dioxide;
- a trap in which the carbon dioxide contained in the trap may be frozen, the trap being connectable to the vessel by a valve-controlled conduit;
- a vial for holding a liquid absorbent, the vial being connectable to the trap by a valve-controlled conduit;
- a manometer connectable selectively by valve-controlled conduits to the vessel and the trap;
- means to cool the trap so that the temperature of its contents can be reduced below the freezing temperature of carbon dioxide;
- means to operate the valves in a predetermined sequence;
- wherein the combined volume of the trap, the vial, and the conduits does not exceed 5% of the volume of the vessel.
An apparatus for preparing a quantity of carbon dioxide for analysis by a scintillation spectrometer, comprising:
- a vessel for holding a sample of the carbon dioxide in gaseous form;
- a vial for holding a liquid absorbent, the vial being connectable to the vessel by a valve-controlled conduit;
- a manometer connectable selectively by valve-controlled conduits to the vessel and the vial;
- means to cause the transfer of carbon dioxide gas from the vessel and into the vial, so that the gas is thereby caused to be absorbed into the absorbent without being recirculated into the vial.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.