Complete Equipment for C-14 Sample Preparation
The equipment supports linked preparation and conversion stages from an appropriately treated carbon sample through lithium carbide, acetylene and benzene. The modular arrangement allows different preparation stages to be managed within one laboratory workflow. Sample pretreatment itself remains dependent on the material and research purpose.
Equipment Workflow
The preparation line connects high-temperature conversion, vacuum and cryogenic handling, gas purification, benzene synthesis and final sample handling. The exact route is selected for the material being processed.
- Sample selection, pretreatment and initial processing.
- Charring or another appropriate route to recover carbon.
- Lithium carbide production.
- Acetylene production and purification.
- Benzene synthesis.
- Benzene purification and transfer.
- Vial preparation and interface with LSC measurement.
Main Equipment Modules
The current specification groups equipment for charring; lithium carbide production from charcoal or carbon dioxide; acetylene production; benzene synthesis; benzene purification; vial handling; and installation and training. Optional arrangements support work with limited sample quantities.
- Charring equipment for appropriate organic fractions.
- Reaction equipment for lithium carbide production.
- CO₂ and charcoal conversion equipment.
- Acetylene production, collection and purification components.
- Two benzene synthesis modules documented in the current specification.
- Benzene purification and sample-transfer components.
- Teflon vials and related sample-handling equipment.
Sample Types and Applications
The system is described for radiocarbon preparation involving wood, charcoal, bone or collagen, peat, soil, shell, carbonate, carbon dioxide and methane. Material selection and pretreatment must be matched to the scientific question. Specialized site pages discuss pottery and samples with limited carbon.
LSC Compatibility and Measurement
The Benzene Line prepares benzene samples for carbon-14 measurement by Liquid Scintillation Counting. It does not imply that a particular liquid scintillation spectrometer is included in every equipment configuration. Vial selection, instrument configuration and laboratory background remain part of the complete measurement system.
Installation and Training
The verified commercial offer includes equipment shipment, technology transfer, on-site installation and staff training. Requirements should be discussed against the intended samples, preparation capacity, available instrumentation and site conditions.
Detailed Specification
The specification page is the source for the current equipment groups and listed components. Use it to review scope before discussing a configuration for a particular laboratory.