11.2.1. Sample preparation

Samples were prepared by the Tracer Laboratory of the Centre for Applications of Nuclear Techniques in Industry (CANTI), Dalat, Vietnam, by adding various quantities of HTO and 14C-MeOH standard solutions into injection water (Table 20) to get the concentrations of HTO and 14C-MeOH in samples ranging from zero to a few hundreds of becquerels per litre and from zero to 74 Bq/L, respectively.

Samples were prepared in 10 sets. Each set contained 15 samples stored in polyethylene bottles. Seven sets were sent to seven laboratories on 28 January 2008. One set in a glass bottle was left at the Tracer Laboratory (CANTI) for analysis and the rest were stored in CANTI for further reference (preserved samples). Instructions for the analysis of HTO and 14C-MeOH in mixture in brine by distillation were prepared by CANTI and sent by email to participating laboratories on 19 February 2008.