Radiochemical Analysis – Instrumentation

CEH's Lancaster research site is equipped with a purpose -built Environmental Radiochemistry suite. This includes dedicated high- and low-level laboratories and counting facilities.

In order to offer a high level of service and quality, we have the following specialised instrumentation:

Liquid scintillation analysis

A Wallac Quantulus 1220 Ultra Low Level LSC is used to analyse samples for beta emitters such as 99Tc, 90Sr, 241Pu, 3H   and 14C and gross alpha determination.

Gamma spectroscopy counters

Used for determining gamma emitting nuclides such as 137Cs, 134Cs, 57Co and 60Co in a variety of  sample geometries and matrices.

Actinide dterminations using alpha apectroscopy

The alpha counters enable determinations of actinides such as U, Th, and Pu alpha isotopes.

Tritium and Carbon-14 analysis

Using the combustion furnaces a range of samples including fish, brick and food stuffs can be analysed for total tritium (OBT + HTO) and 14C using the Quantulus for final measurement to achieve low Limits of Detection.