Sample requirements
LES personnel will help you determine the sample sizes needed to obtain the best possible results for your specific research projects. The following information provides general guidelines to be considered.
Quantity of sample needed for analysis
I. Stable isotope measurements - δ 13C, δ 18O, δ 15N, δ 34S, δ D – (‰)
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Water (δ18O, δD) | 0.2 l | 0.5 l |
| NH4+ content of water δ15N) | 1.5-2.5 mg/l NH4+ (3 l) | 5 l |
| NO3- content of water ( δ15N) | 6-11 mg/l NO3- (3 l) | 5 l |
| Carbonate (δ13C) | 10 mg | 1 g |
| Organic material (δ13C, δ18O, δ15N, δ34S) | 1 g | 10 g |
| BaSO4 precipitate from sulphide δ34S) | 10 mg | 1 g |
| BaSO4 precipitate from sulphate (δ34S) | 10 mg | 1 g |
II. Radiocarbon dating - 14C (*)
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Charcoal, seeds, peat (air dryed) | 3-6 g | 25 g |
| Textile | 6-50 g | 100 g |
| Wood, charcoal (with humidity) | 30-150 g | 250 g |
| Soil, sediment | 50-1500 g | 2000 g |
| Bone | 60-300 g | 500 g |
| Carbonate, coral, dripstone | 10-30 g | 50 g |
| Surface water, groundwater | 50 l | 100 l |
* The mass of the sample must be increased as much as tenfold if the sample has a high detrital mineral content, if it is highly contaminated with organic residues (e.g., humic acids or roots), or if it is poorly preserved (e.g., advanced decomposition of peat, weathered shells). In such cases the contamination must be removed or particular fractions must be extracted for analysis, often resulting in the loss of as much as 90% of the sample.
III. Radiochemical analysis
134Cs, 137Cs, 110mAg, 60Co
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Evaporator concentrate | 0.5 ml | 10 ml |
| Used ion exchange resin | 20 mg | 1 g |
| Sludge | 0.5 ml | 10 ml |
| Primary water | 0.5 ml | 10 ml |
| Observation wells water | 10 l | 100 l |
| Geological materials | 100 g | 1000 g |
129I, 36Cl, 99Tc
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Evaporator concentrate | 1 l | 2 l |
| Used ion exchange resin | 10 g | 100 g |
| Sludge | 1 l | 2 l |
| Primary water | 2 l | 5 l |
| Observation wells water | 50 l | 100 l |
| Geological materials | 100 g | 1000 g |
14C
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Evaporator concentrate | 50 ml | 250 ml |
| Used ion exchange resin | 1 g | 5 g |
| Sludge | 1 g | 5 l |
| Primary water | 100 ml | 500 ml |
| Observation wells water | 50 l | 100 l |
| Geological materials | 100 g | 1000 g |
T
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Evaporator concentrate | 1 ml | 10 ml |
| Used ion exchange resin | 30 mg | 100 g |
| Sludge | 30 mg | 100 g |
| Primary water | 1 ml | 10 ml |
| Observation wells water | 50 l | 100 l |
| Geological materials | 100 g | 1000 g |
63Ni, 59Ni
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Evaporator concentrate | 100 ml | 250 ml |
| Used ion exchange resin | 10 g | 100 g |
| Sludge | 10 g | 100 g |
| Primary water | 2 l | 5 l |
| Observation wells water | 50 l | 100 l |
| Geological materials | 100 g | 1000 g |
90Sr
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Evaporator concentrate | 1 l | 2 l |
| Used ion exchange resin | 100 g | 1000 g |
| Sludge | 100 g | 1000 g |
| Primary water | 2 l | 5 l |
| Observation wells water | 50 l | 100 l |
| Geological materials | 100 g | 1000 g |
85Kr
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Primary water | 0.5 l | 2 l |
| Stack air | 20 l | 50 l |
IV. Honey adulteration analysis
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Honey | 50 g | 250 g |
V. Tritium activity concentration with tritium ingrowth method
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Water | 1 l | 3 l |
VI. Water analysis
| Type of sample | Minimum quantity | Average quantity |
| Water | 2 l | 3 l |