Optimization of pretreatment process of oxygen combustion vessel in OBT analysis

Fujiwara, Kenso ; Kuwata, Haruka*

Tritium is included in liquid waste from Tokyo Electric Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Since different concentrations of tritium in marine products and seawater was reported, concentrations of Organically Bound Tritium (OBT) and Tissue Free Water Tritium (TFWT) in marine products also have differences. Therefore, it is important to distinguish the concentration of OBT and TFWT in marine products. However, a chemical procedure of OBT analysis needs very long time because a pretreatment process is complicated. Thus, for environmental monitoring, a rapid analytical method for OBT in marine products by using oxygen combustion vessel was developed. In the case of pretreatment process combined freeze-drying with heating-drying, the total analysis time was shorter than a conventional method from 14 to 7 days.