The present status of the AGE3 automated graphitization equipment for radiocarbon dating at the JAEA-AMS-TONO

Watanabe, Takahiro   ; Kokubu, Yoko   ; Fujita, Natsuko   ; Ishizaka, Chika*; Nishio, Tomohiro; Matsubara, Akihiro*; Miyake, Masayasu; Kato, Motohisa*; Isozaki, Nobuhiro*; Torazawa, Hitoshi*; Nishizawa, Akimitsu*; Ishimaru, Tsuneari 

AMS is widely used for radiocarbon dating of geological samples. However, improvement in efficiency of sample preparation techniques are needed for high-time resolution dataset. In 2016, automated graphitization equipment (AGE3, IonPlus AG) has been installed in Toki Research Institute of Isotope Geology and Geochronology, Tono Geoscience Center, JAEA. Background values and carbon recovery rates during preparation process of AGE3 should be estimated before application in radiocarbon dating. In this study, the AGE3 system was evaluated using the international standard materials (IAEA-C1, C4, C5, C6, C7, C9 and NIST-SRM4990C) at JAEA-AMS-TONO. Graphite samples was prepared by the AGE3 system and radiocarbon concentration of these standards was measured by AMS. The results were agreement with the consensus values. Background values were 0.150.01 pMC (IAEA-C1) using the AGE3 system. Therefore, we concluded that the system can be adapted for radiocarbon dating of geological samples.