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.