Time-resolved liquid scintillation counting

Abstract

Historically, scientists who perform low-level measurements of 14C for age dating, and 3H2O for environmental contamination, have purchased or constructed highly specialized instruments to quantitate low-level radionuclides using a general-purpose liquid-scintillation analyzer (LSA). The LSA uses special time-resolved 3-D spectrum analysis (TR-LSC) to reduce background without substantially affecting sample counting efficiency. This technique, in combination with a special slow fluor scintillating plastic, further reduces the minimal detectable limit for the TR-LSC liquid scintillation counter. -Author