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INTRODUCTION

The Biological Oxidizer is an instrument used to combust any biological or organic materials (wet or dry) in a stream of gas at 900 °C in order to convert a solid sample into a gaseous state. The products obtained from the combustion are passed through a series of catalyst at 700 °C. The purpose of this procedure is to trap the ¹⁴C and/or tritiated water in external traps containing scintillation cocktail previously prepared (Figure 1). This technique is based upon the theory that states that all biological materials contain carbon and hydrogen in different amounts and varieties.

Figure 1. Procedure for the oxidation of a sample.

Index: 

Theory of radioactivity

Use of radioisotopes

Principal components

Operating Instructions