Experimental methodologies for the determination of radiocarbon in ethanol

Two different methods for measuring carbon-14 activity of ethanols by liquid scintillation counting are described: in the first one the sample is directly mixed with an appropriate scintillation cocktail but the second needs prior transformation of ethanol into benzene. The direct liquid scintillation counting is fast because of its simple preparation techniques but it requires very careful calibrations; on the other hand, the transformation into benzene is tedious and time-consuming but gives accurate values and it will be the reference method for the determination of radiocarbon content in our laboratory. (authors). 25 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs