HIGH-TEMPERATURE PYROLYSIS TO EXTRACT CL-36 FOR ACCELERATOR MASS-SPECTROMETRY MEASUREMENTS

Cl-36 and stable Cl were extracted from solids by high temperature pyr olysis and then analyzed by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Cl wa s quantitatively extracted from rock, are, vegetation and freshwater s ediments in samples weighing from 100 mg to 2 g. Cl-36:Cl activity rat ios measured following Cl extraction by pyrolysis agreed with those me asured following CI extraction by acid leaching. The simple pyrolysis extraction has the additional advantages that stable Cl- can be measur ed on the same sample along with other anions, the Cl-36:Cl ratio can be adjusted by diluting the known Cl- concentration in the collection solution to control the activity of Cl-36 in the target and the potent ial interference of S-36 can also be assessed prior to the AMS measure ments.