Accounting for Overcounting Induced by ²²²Rn Contamination in ¹⁴C Measurements Performed with Liquid Scintillation Counting

This research paper introduces a methodology for estimating overcounting resulting from uranium series radionuclides, with a specific focus on ²²²Rn contamination. The method is demonstrated using the Quantulus 1220^TM spectrometer. Exponential fitting is employed for the calculations, utilizing a custom algorithm developed in MATLAB^® R2022b. The proposed method allows for the determination of the sample count rate correction, F¹⁴C and radiocarbon age without the need for additional chemical treatment or specialized electronics during liquid scintillation counting (LSC) measurements with the Quantulus 1220^TM spectrometer. However, the method does have certain limitations. It requires a significant number of cycles and extended measurement time per cycle, but it can be applied to samples with significant ²²²Rn contamination that require rapid ¹⁴C analysis.