Conversion of Gaseous Molecular Tritium to Tritiated Water in Biological Systems.

摘要

The exposure of field soils to molecular tritium under laboratory conditions showed that molecular tritium was converted to tritiated water within the soil column. Soil conditions which promoted active metabolism of soil microorganisms also increased the amount of tritium found as tritiated water. Soil sterilization greatly decreased the conversion of molecular tritium,while reinnoculation with soil microorganisms restored the conversion ability of the soil. On the basis of these results,we conclude that molecular tritium is converted to tritiated water in soil through the metabolic action of soil microorganisms. A series of experiments was also carried out in which closed plant-soil systems were exposed to molecular tritium. Tritiated water was found in the soil and plant water after exposure. In some cases,the concentration of tritiated water in the plants was higher than the concentration in the soil. This observation suggests that there may be conversion of molecular tritium to tritiated water associated with the metabolism of the plants. (ERA citation 02:011174)