Optimization of $CO_2$ Direct Absorption Method for the Determination of Carbon-14 in Environmental Samples

환경시료중의 방사성탄소 측정을 위한 $CO_2$ 직접흡수법의 최적화 연구

The goal of this work was to optimize the liquid scintillation counting techniques for the determination of C-14 in environmental samples such as biological and air samples. Carbon-14 activities in most environmental samples were measured with direct $CO_2$ absorption method. The highest figure of merit was found through the variation of Carbosorb $E^{TM}$ and Permatluor $V^{TM}$ ratio, in the measurement windows. The best condition was 1:1 volume ratio. Average 2.35 g of $CO_2$ was reproducibly absorbed in the 20 ml mixture within 40 min. The counting efficiency determined by repeated analysis of NIST oxalic acid standard and the background count rate were measured to be $58.8{\pm}1.4%$ and $1.88{\pm}0.06\;cpm$, respectively in case of saturated solution. The correction curves of counting efficiency for partially saturated solutions and for saturated solutions with quenching were prepared, respectively. The overall uncertainty of the sample specific activity for near background levels was estimated to be about 7 % for 4 hours counting at 95 % confidence level. The long-term stability of samples has been checked for all the counting techniques over a two week periods, and no apparent change in counting efficiency and background level was found at that time.

생체나 공기 등 일반 환경시료의 방사성탄소 측정을 위한 액체섬광측정기술의 최적화에 연구의 목적을 두었다 일반 환경시료의 경우 $CO_2$ 직접흡수법을 적용하였으며, 이산화탄소 흡수제 Carbosorb $E^{TM}$와 섬광용액 Permafluor $V^{TM}$기 혼합비율을 1:1로 결정하였다. 이 20 ml 혼합용액에 포화 흡수되는 이산화탄소의 양은 평균 2.35 g 이며, 포집에 소요되는 시간은 약 40 분이었다 백그라운드 계수율은 1.88±0.06 cpm 이었으며, NIST 옥살산표준시료 측정결과 계측효율은 58.8±1.4 % 이었다. 이산화탄소 흡수량에 따른 계측효율을 보정하기 위하여 소광보정곡선을 구하였다. 자연준위 시료의 경우 4시간 계측시 비방사능 측정에 따른 전반적인 오차는 95 % 신뢰도상 약 7 %이었다. 이 측정방법에 대하여 2주 동안 시료의 안정성을 조사한 결과 계측효율과 백그라운드 계수율의 안정성을 의심할 만한 현상은 발견되지 않았다.