Small Sample Radiocarbon Dating

Background
Huge number of C-14 dating samples, which are either relatively small or their material contains a low concentration of carbon dated with limited sample mass, which can be taken into operation. In both cases, the use of conventional radiocarbon dating for these samples result in small portions of benzene.

Issues
So we need to prepare the sample with benzene as high as possible coefficient of chemical yield, and then make the measurement of radiocarbon concentration in thw benzene sample with a possible minimum diluting the sample material.

Decisions
Application of modern benzene line allows you to work with samples, for which it is possible to synthesize 100-200 mg of benzene at high chemical yield, and on request this module for micro samples could be included into set of equipment.
Application of hydrolysis module (See p. 4.2 of specification ) which allows you to apply the capsule technology to produce lithium carbide.
Capsule technology is progressive by means of preparing a few samples in the same process and what more it allows operating carbide samples some time later as each sample is hermetic and could be stored.
Application of anti-radon module decrease time of sample stabilization before counting which is most important for small samples of benzene.

As it was stated ( Robert M Kalin and Austin Long, 1989 ) traditional Teflon vials may have limitation, like they are time consuming in operation and may require individual calibration in series and they have benzene leakage limitation.

Special Glass vials ( A.G. HOGG, 1992 ) will cover wide range of benzene volume measured (0.3 Ml to 10 Ml), when 10 Ml vials are most applicable for precise measurement of radiocarbon and when 0.3 Ml vials are suitable to provide accurate results with adequate precision for many applications, for samples containing 120-240 mg of carbon.

In addition it was shown that application of underground laboratory ( Wolfango Plastino and Lauri Kaihola, 2006 ) can significantly decrease counting background.

Recent developments ( Michael Buzinny and Vadim Skripkin, 1995 ) allow us to create of two parts 0.8 Ml Teflon vial with different holder which have quite good performances described above. Now we offer most recently developed ( Skripkin, unpublished) super performance (see photo above) Teflon vials which had got long durability, simple in use with different volumes: 0.8 ml, 1.5 ml, 2.5 ml, 4.0 ml 7.0 ml and have extreme Low benzene leakage.

Performances of Teflon vials, FOM vs Background