| This research investigates the application of the triple-to-double coincidence ratio
(TDCR) liquid scintillation analysis method in conjunction with the tritium electrolytic
enrichment procedure. The primary objective is to evaluate whether the vacuum distillation step
can be eliminated from the enrichment process while maintaining accurate tritium measurements.
A batch of tritium-enriched samples was prepared using the electrolytic enrichment method. This
batch was divided into two sets, with one set undergoing the traditional vacuum distillation
process and the other set analyzed without vacuum distillation. Both sets were measured using
two different liquid scintillation counters: the Tricarb 3170 and the Hidex 300 SL, which employs
the TDCR method. The Hidex 300 SL's capability to reduce chemiluminescence during counting
was assessed. Statistical analysis, including t-tests, was performed to compare the measured
tritium concentrations with reference values. The results indicate that the effectiveness of the
TDCR method and the standard liquid scintillation counting method in measuring tritium
concentrations can be influenced by factors such as the distillation method, the presence of
chemiluminescence, and the specific counting instrument used. Based on this investigation, it is
concluded that the vacuum distillation process cannot be excluded from the tritium enrichment
procedure while maintaining accurate tritium measurements.
Keywords: Tritium (3H), Electrolytic tritium enrichment, Vacuum distillation, Hidex 300 SL,
Tricarb 3170, Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC), Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR),
Chemiluminescence, Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), Quench, Efficiency |