AGE: Automated Graphitization Equippment

Graphite targets are customarily required for radiocarbon measurements. For this purpose, CO2, which can originate from combustion in the EA or by hydrolysis in the CHS, is reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere and in the presence of an iron catalyst.
The AGE automates this time-consuming process. The graphitization unit can process seven samples at a time. First, the sample CO2 is adsorbed on a zeolite trap and thus concentrated. By thermal desorption and the associated gas expansion, the CO2 enters a reactor pre-filled with iron powder, and is subsequently filled with hydrogen. Each of the seven reactors is then heated by its own individual oven to 580 ° C and the CO2 is reduced to graphite. Up to 21 samples can be graphitized per day.