Optimization of simultaneous tritium–radiocarbon internal gas proportional counting

Specific environmental applications can benefit from dual tritium and radiocarbon measurements in a single compound. Assuming typical environmental levels, it is often the low tritium activity relative to the higher radiocarbon activity that limits the dual measurement. In this paper, we explore the parameter space for a combined tritium and radiocarbon measurement using a natural methane sample mixed with an argon fill gas in low-background proportional counters of a specific design. We present an optimized methane percentage, detector fill pressure, and analysis energy windows to maximize measurement sensitivity while minimizing count time. The final optimized method uses a 9-atm fill of P35 (35% methane, 65% argon), and a tritium analysis window from 1.5 to 10.3keV, which stops short of the tritium beta decay endpoint energy of 18.6keV. This method optimizes tritium-counting efficiency while minimizing radiocarbon beta-decay interference. •Use of a single compound (methane) for dual tritium and radiocarbon measurements.•Optimized analysis window for simultaneous tritium and radiocarbon measurement.•Allows for optimization of tritium counting in the presence of radiocarbon.