Characterization of aqueous rose bengal dye solution for the measurement of low doses of gamma radiation

Aqueous solution of rose bengal dye has been studied spectrophotometrically as a gamma-ray dosimeter for the measurement of low doses of radiation. The useful dose range was found to be from 50 to 1000 Gy when the measurements were made at 549 nm. The effects of temperature and light conditions on the stability of response during post-irradiation storage were also investigated. When stored in dark at room temperature, the dosimetric solutions showed a stable response up to 22 days. The storage of irradiated solutions in diffused sunlight showed a stable response only up to 6 days. When exposed to direct sunlight, very prominent and fast bleaching of dye solution occurred. At low storage temperature (ca. 11 °C), dosimetric response was found to be stable up to 22 days while at higher temperature (ca. 30 °C), the response of dosimetric solution was stable only up to 6 days. The rose bengal aqueous solution showed promising characteristics as a low dose radiation dosimeter when stored at lower temperatures (<25 °C) in dark.     

Characterization of aqueous solution of cresol red as food irradiation dosimeter

Dilute aqueous solution of cresol red has been evaluated spectrophotometrically as possible gamma rays dosimeter. A 0.10 mM solution of cresol red was irradiated by gamma rays using a cobalt-60 radiation source. The absorbance spectra of the unirradiated and irradiated solutions were recorded using double beam scanning spectrophotometer. The absorbance of the solution before and after irradiation was measured at 434 nm (λ_max) as well as at other wavelengths (415, 448 and 470 nm). Various parameters, such as Absorbance (A), ΔA, %A, -log A and log A_o/A_i were plotted against radiation dose, in order to check the response of cresol red solution and its possible use as chemical dosimeter. The response plots of A, ΔA, and %A versus absorbed dose showed that the solution can be used as a radiation dosimeter in a dose range up to 0.82 kGy. Using response plots of -log A and log A_o/A_i, the useful dose range can be extended up to 1.65 kGy; which are useful dose ranges for food irradiation applications. Stability studies of cresol red solution at different light and temperature conditions for pre- and post-irradiated storage of the dosimetric solutions suggested that aqueous solution of cresol red is highly stable in dark, under fluorescence light and at room temperature up to 150 days     

琼脂糖基类丁二炔凝胶剂量计的辐照响应行为

将类丁二炔(10, 12-二十五碳二炔酸)囊泡固载于琼脂糖凝胶制备出了新型辐射变色凝胶复合凝胶材料。利用γ射线辐照研究了所制备凝胶的辐照响应行为,结果显示:当γ辐射剂量在500-2000 Gy内,随着剂量增加,凝胶由无色逐渐变为蓝色,颜色不断加深,采用紫外-可见光分光光度计测试其吸收光谱,发现其主要吸收峰值在660 nm附近,且辐照前后凝胶的吸光度差值与剂量有良好线性关系(相关系数R² =0.9942)。进一步研究表明:所制备的凝胶材料对γ射线和电子束辐照有相同的剂量响应,且无明显的能量和剂量率依赖性;凝胶的辐射后效应较弱,辐照后24 h,吸光度基本恒定;分次辐照对凝胶剂量计准确性的影响极小;凝胶在0-30℃范围内的响应性基本保持稳定;在辐照后48 h内,并未观察到囊泡有明显扩散效应,显示出良好的稳定性。此外,琼脂糖具有价廉、无毒且易制备为任意形状凝胶的优点,因此该凝胶剂量计有望应用于真实场景的三维剂量分布测定。     

Threonine-FX dosimeter for food irradiation

A detailed study for the spectrophotometric readout method for L-threonine powder, [CH₃CH(OH)CH(NH₂)COOH], was done. In this method, 400 mg unirradiated/irradiated L-threonine powder was dissolved in 10 ml of a solution which contains 3×10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ ferrous ammonium sulphate and 1.7×10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ xylenol orange (XO) in aerated aqueous 0.17 mol dm⁻³ sulphuric acid (FX). The peroxy radicals produced from irradiated threonine oxidize ferrous ions and XO forms a complex with ferric ions as well as controls the chain length of ferrous ion oxidation. The plot of absorbance at 556 nm against dose is linear in the dose range 20–400 Gy and doses down to about 1 Gy can be measured using 10-cm path cells. Response of the dosimeter is independent of irradiation temperature above 20. A dose of 50 Gy–10 kGy can be measured dissolving 50 mg threonine powder in 10 ml of a solution which contains 3×10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ ferrous ammonium sulphate and 1.3×10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ XO in aerated aqueous 0.06 mol dm⁻³ sulphuric acid (FX). The plot of absorbance at 552 nm against dose is non-linear. However dosimeter shows linear dose response up to 1000 Gy. Irradiated threonine powder is stable for about 3 months. The reproducibility of the method is better than ±2%. This dosimeter is very useful as transfer dosimeter for food irradiation programme.     

Post-irradiation stability of response of an aqueous coumarin dosimeter

Aqueous solution of coumarin (-benzopyrone) has been evaluated spectrophotometrically as a -ray dosimeter. In the present study measurements have been made at peak wavelength of 347 nm as well as at two other wavelengths (i. e. 360 and 370 nm). The response of the dosimeter with respect to absorbed dose is linear in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 kGy when absorption measurements are made at 347 nm. However, this dose range can be increased up to 0.8 kGy if analyzed at longer wavelengths of 360 and 370 nm. Postirradiation stability at room temperature in the dark show that the response increases gradually till 6 d. Afterwards the response is almost stabilized up to 42 d at all the wavelengths studied.     

Aqueous phenylacetic acid as a low-dose fluorescence dosimeter

Total fluorescence of aqueous phenylacetic acid system at neutral pH has been evaluated as low-dose -ray chemical dosimeter, using the fluorescence accessory of a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The useful working range of the system is from 4 to 70 Gy. The postirradiation stability of the dosimeter response has been studied at different pH's, storage temperatures and light conditions. The post-irradiation stability of the dosimeter decreases with an increase in storage temperature. The stability is not affected in diffuse sunlight but it is very unstable in direct sunlight.     

Optical waveguide dosimetry for gamma-radiation in the dose range 10-1 − 104 Gy

Two types of liquid-core optical waveguide (OWG) dosimeters are commercially available for dosimetry in the irradiation of foods and other products. “Opti-chromic” type FWT-70-40M has a useful range of about 10-10⁴ Gy and type FWT-70–83M about 10²−10⁴ Gy. 5 Within the limits of random uncertainty of the reading of the absorbed dose (±5%, 1σ), the response to γ-radiation is independent of dose rate over the range 10^-1−10⁴ Gy/h, when measured at the peak of the spectrum [absorption band maximum (600 nm wavelength)]. The response curve is linear with dose up to ≈10³ Gy, but is non-linear at higher doses, where the readings are made away from the absorption peak (656nm). Both dosimeter types when measured at 600 nm are temperature dependent over the temperatures ranges of -40 to 60°C during irradiation. The dosimeters cannot be used when exposed to temperatures > 60°C because of bubble formation and loss of light propagation. At doses < 10³ Gy (at600 nm), the dosimeters are stable (in terms of dose readings) for several months following irradiation, but at doses ≈ 10⁴ kGy (at 656 nm), they show a gradual absorbance increase (error in dose interpretation), over post-irradiation storage periods longer than 1 month. A special, sensitive OWG dosimeter (50-cm coil), designed for doses down to 10^-1 Gy, shows a linear response up to at least 15 Gy, a temperature dependence of response only at temperatures below ≈ 20°C, and no dose-rate dependence.     

Dosimetric characteristics of aqueous solution of crystal violet for applications in food irradiation

Aqueous solution of crystal violet has been evaluated spectrophotometrically as a gamma-ray chemical dosimeter. The response of the chemical dosimetric system has also been investigated under different environmental conditions, such as light and temperature. In the present study the response has been measured at two wavelengths; 588 nm (λ_max of the irradiated solution) and 500 nm. The response of the crystal violet dosimeter was linear in the dose range of 50–550 Gy at pH 5.6 when absorption measurements were made at 588 and 500 nm. The response of the crystal violet dosimeter during post-irradiation storage at room temperature in dark showed slight decrease in absorbance at 588 and 510 nm but the response was almost stable at 460 nm. For higher doses, the change in the response was greater as compared to the low doses. Post-irradiation stability during diffused sunlight showed significant decrease in the response for higher dose at 588 and 510 nm and slower decrease in the response for lower dose at the above mentioned wavelengths. However the response was almost stable up to 97 days at 460 nm for higher and lower doses. At 4 °C, the decrease in the absorbance was slower at 588 and 510 nm while the response was almost constant at 460 nm. At higher temperatures, such as 40 °C, the decrease in the absorbance was greater at 588 and 510 nm while at 460 nm the absorbance was almost constant for about 3 months.     

A novel approach towards development of real time chemical dosimetry using pulsating sensor-based instrumentation

The paper presents an innovative approach towards development of real time dosimetry using a chemical dosimeter for measurement of absorbed radiation dose in the range between 1 and 400 Gy. Saturated chloroform solution in water, a well known chemical dosimeter, is used to demonstrate the concept of online measurement of radiation dose. The measurement approach involves online monitoring of increase in conductivity of saturated chloroform solution due to progressive build up of traces of highly conducting HCl during exposure to gamma irradiation. A high performance pulsating sensor-based conductivity monitoring instrument has been used to monitor such real time change in conductivity of solution. A relation between conductivity shift and radiation dose has been established using radiochemical yield value (G value) of HCl. The G value of HCl in saturated chloroform dosimeter has been determined using laboratory developed pulsating sensor-based devices. In this connection dose rate of Co-60 gamma chamber was determined using Fricke dosimeter following a simple potentiometric measurement approach developed in-house besides conventional spectrophotometry. Results obtained from both measurement approaches agreed well. Complete instrumentation package has also been developed to measure real time radiation dose. The proposed real time radiation dosimeter is successfully tested in several measurement campaigns in order to assure its performance prior to its deployment in field.     

Mobility of some ions produced by tritium betas

The aqueous solution of coumarin has been studied spectrophotometrically as a -ray dosimeter and effects of temperature and light conditions on the stability of response during post-irradiation storage have been studied. Post-irradiation storage at room temperature in dark showed that after a very small increase in absorbance within the first 6 d, the response of the dosimeter was stable up to 42 d. At lower temperature (–15 °C), there was some decrease in absorbance within the first 24 h followed by a stable response up to 35 d. For post-irradiation storage at higher temperatures (40, 60 °C) the dosimeter, apart from some initial increase in absorbance, showed a nearly stable response up to 25 d. The effect of different light conditions during post-irradiation storage has also been studied. When stored in fluorescent light the response was almost stable from 6 d till about 40 d. In diffuse sunlight, the response was stable up to about 35 d at 360 nm and 370 nm but showed a somewhat unstable behavior at 347 nm. The dosimetric solutions were unstable when exposed to direct sunlight.     

Excited species in the FBX dosimeter system

In the FBX dosimeter solution, the excitation of xylenol orange (XO) produces maximum emission at 550–575 nm both at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures (about 85%) having a lifetime of 0.20–0.36 ns. In addition, at room temperature there is an emission at 350 nm for the excitation at 260 nm (about 15%) having a longer lifetime of 3.71–4.01 ns. Benzoic acid (BA) has excitation at 284–295 nm and emission at 320–365 nm having a lifetime of 1.38 ns. In an aqueous solution containing 5×10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ BA, 2×10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ XO and 0.04 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄ there is no XO emission at 550 nm due to UV absorption at 260 nm by BA. In this solution, 2 emissions are observed near 350–360 nm, having lifetimes of 1.25 ns (89%) and 2.86 ns (11%). The wavelengths for the emission of XO and absorption of ferric-XO complex are nearly the same. Excited XO produces oxidation of ferrous ions and BA increases the chain length.     

New chemical Fricke gel radiation dosimeter

Dosimetric gel is used in several measurements due to its linearity, low cost, and possibility for 3D measurements. This work brings a new possibility to apply the Fricke Xylenol Gel recipe in the diagnostic measurements region. The Fricke Xilenol Gel (FXG) dosimeter is associated with the Fe(II) to Fe(III) oxidation, when irradiated, being the final ion concentration proportional to the absorbed dose. To achieve the scope, the former dosimeter was modified through the benzoic acid addition in the original recipe forming a new dosimeter, the Benzoic Xylenol Gel (BFXG). The results obtained with this new dosimeter demonstrated a higher sensibility for low absorbed dose values, bringing down the absorbed dose inferior limit from 0.1 to 0.006 Gy, that is more adequate for radiodiagnostic absorbed dose measurements. This result shows the possibly of BFXG dosimeter to be used for measurements in the radiodiagnostic region, as for tomography and mammography techniques.     

Muscle and plastic equivalent glass dosimeter for high-dose dosimetry

The alkali-silicate glass dosimeter is made up of 66.8% SiO₂, 31.2% Li₂O, 2% K₂O. It is nearly colourless before irradiation and then takes on an amber colour with increasing doses of gamma-radiation. This colouration is represented by the appearance of broad absorption bands at 405 nm and 600 nm wavelengths. The change in absorbance is linear with the absorbed dose in the range 0.1–4.5 kGy, when measured at its 405 nm absorption band maximum. This glass dosimeter simulates low-z plastics and muscle tissue in terms of gamma-ray absorption properties over broad radiation spectra (0.1 MeV to 10 MeV).     

Sunna 535-nm photo-fluorescent film dosimeter response to different environmental conditions

Evaluations on the influence of environmental variabilities on the red fluorescence component of the Sunna Model γ photo-fluorescent dosimeter^TM have previously been reported. This present paper describes the environmental effects on the response of the green fluorescence component of the same dosimeter, which is manufactured using the injection molding technique. The results presented include temperature, relative humidity, and light influences both during and after irradiation. The green fluorescence signal shows a significant dependence on irradiation temperature below room temperature at 1%/°C. Above room temperature (approximately 24–60°C), the irradiation temperature effect varies from −0.1%/°C to 1.0%/°C, depending on the absorbed dose level. For facilities with irradiation temperatures between 30°C and 60°C and absorbed dose levels above 10 kGy, irradiation temperature effects are minimal. Light-effects results indicate that the dosimeter is influenced by ultraviolet and blue wavelengths during irradiation as well as during the post-irradiation stabilization period (approximately 22 h), requiring the use of light-tight packaging. Results also show that the dosimeter exhibits negligible effects from ambient moisture during and after irradiation when in the range of 33–95% relative humidity.     

A new biochemical radiation dosimeter

Summary A bilirubin-chloroform solution was tested as a gamma-radiation dosimeter (SALPILL dosimeter) in the 0-100 Gy range, and at dose rates between 0.01 to 3.18 Gy ^. min^-1, which displayed certain advantages over the conventional Fricke, TLD and diode dosimeters when examined under identical experimental conditions. The principle of operation involved gamma-irradiation of micro-molar quantities of the unconjugated specimen with a ¹³⁷Cs source (662 keV gamma-rays), and measurement of the (degraded) bilirubin absorption at 453 nm. The relationship of bilirubin depletion and radiation dose was linear, which remained invariant with oxic and anoxic exposure, denoting excellent reproducibility under diverse experimental conditions. Further validation of performance was achieved by repeated in-air trials, which produced a reproducibility within ±2% (n = 5). Stringent comparative tests conducted against currently accepted gamma-radiation dosimeters favoured the SALPILL dosimeter in all the relevant areas. The merits of using chloroform as a solvent in place of water was considered. The SALPILL dosimeter has the following distinctive features: prolonged “shelf-life” (before and after irradiation), insensitive into oxygen, operational at relatively low dose rates, linear functionality at low doses (0-5 Gy), solvent stability, solute integrity, reliability, convenient and cost-effective. The drawbacks of SALPILL are minimal, which makes it a facile dosimeter for certain applications.     

Preliminary investigation of a new type of propylene based gel dosimeter (DEMBIG)

Radiotherapy widely uses the polymer gel dosimeter. The advantage of polymer gel dosimetry is the mapped 3D absorbed dose distribution that other dosimeters cannot achieve. The Acrylamide (AAm) is a frequently used monomer; however, the extreme toxicity of Acrylamide (ORL-RAT LD50: 124 mg/kg) raises a concern. Therefore, this study developed a new type of Propylene acid based gel dosimeter, named DEMBIG gel. The following outlines the aim of this study: (1) using two-point formulation to find the optimal scan parameter of MRI according to the best sensitivity and linearity (correlation coefficient) of DEMBIG gel, (2) using the optimal scan parameter of MRI to observe the properties of DEMBIG gel, and (3) verifying the three-dimensional (3D) dose distributions of radiotherapy. This study obtained three major results: 1. The scan protocol of MRI was established. 2. The preliminary results of DEMBIG gel were: (1) The range of absorbed dose of DEMBIG gel: 0–20 Gy. (2) The sensitivity and correlation coefficient of DEMBIG gel at verification as slope: 0.181 sGy^?1, R ²:0.997. (3) There is no energy dependency of the DEMBIG gel. 3. The dose difference was 3% in the three-dimensional (3D) isocenter dose in clinical radiotherapy. These data show that DEMBIG gel is a potential candidate for the 3D dosimeter.     

Hydroxyl radical self-recombination reaction and absorption spectrum in water up to 350 degrees C

The rate constant for the self-recombination of hydroxyl radicals (*OH) in aqueous solution giving H2O2 product has been measured from 150 to 350 degrees C by direct measurement of the *OH radical transient optical absorption at 250 nm. The values of the rate constant are smaller than previously predicted by extrapolation to the 200-350 degrees C range and show virtually no change in this range. In combining these measurements with previous results, the non-Arrhenius behavior can be well described in terms of the Noyes equation kobs-1 = kact-1+ kdiff-1, using the diffusion-limited rate constant kdiff estimated from the Smoluchowski equation and an activated barrier rate kact nearly equal to the gas-phase high-pressure limiting rate constant for this reaction. The aqueous *OH radical spectrum between 230 and 320 nm is reported up to 350 degrees C. A weak band at 310 nm grows in at higher temperature, while the stronger band at 230 nm decreases. An isosbestic point appears near 305 nm. We assign the 230 nm band to hydrogen-bonded *OH radical, and the 310 nm band is assigned to "free" *OH. On the basis of the spectrum change relative to room temperature, over half of the *OH radicals are in the latter form at 350 degrees C.     

Sunna dosimeter: an integrating photoluminescent film and reader system; work in progress

A new radiation dosimeter, consisting of an optically-stimulated polymer film containing a photofluorescent sensor, can serve as a routine dosimeter and radiographic imaging medium for high-dose applications in the absorbed dose range 0.1–100 kGy. The flexible, colorless, opalescent film having a uniform thickness of 0.240 (±0.005) mm or certain other films in the thickness range 0.08–0.60 mm, are available in large batches. They can be read rapidly with a simple table-top spectrofluorimeter, excitation wavelength (λ=450 nm) and emission wavelength (λ=670 nm), giving a type A uncertainty of dose evaluation of <±5% at 95% confidence level. It supplies either single integrated dose readings or two-dimensional radiographic images with relatively high spatial resolution. The present work focuses on the following gamma-ray response characteristics of the system: inter- and intra-batch reproducibility, pre- and post-irradiation stability, and dependence of dose interpretations on absorbed dose rate and irradiation temperature.     

Dichromate dosimetry: The effect of acetic acid on the radiolytic reduction yield

The radiation chemical yield for the reduction of dichromate, Cr(VI) → Cr³⁺, in an acidic aqueous perchloric acid solution of potassium dichromate, may be increased from 0.04 to >0.2 μ mol J^-1 by adding acetic acid. The increased yield, G[-(Cr₂O₇)^2-] is about the same in N_2- and O₂-saturated solutions. The molar linear absorption coefficient at 350 nm also is the same in both solutions (ϵ_m = 2800 M^-1cm^-1) at pH 0.4. The proposed mechanism to explain the enhanced response in N₂-saturated solutions involves the efficient reaction of acetic acid with hydroxyl radicals by the abstraction of H from the methyl group; the resulting acid radicals react with relatively high yield to reduce Cr(VI). In O₂-saturated solution, the acetic acid radical apparently goes through an acetic acid peroxyl radical by a bimolecular reaction to the tetroxide intermediate of acetic acid, which releases H₂O₂ with relatively high yield by a Bennett-type reaction. This additional H₂O₂, as a reducing agent, reacts slowly with dichromate and boosts the value of G[-(Cr₂O₇)^2-]. The negative slope of the response (ΔA vs dose) continues to increase during the period immediately after irradiation of oxygenated solution, due to slow reaction of radiolytically-produced H₂O₂ with dichromate. There is also in both O₂- and N₂-saturated solution a long-term slow reaction involving oxidation of the organic substrate (in this case, acetic acid). Because of these instabilities, the solutions cannot readily be used for dosimetry without the presence of silver ions, which in the oxidized state, Ag²⁺, act to stabilize the solution after irradiation. The addition of silver dichromate at a concentration of 0.1 mM decreases the yield to G[-(Cr₂O₇)^2-] = 0.17 μmolJ^-1, but greatly improves the stability of the solution after irradiation. The absorbed dose range for the modified dichromate dosimeter when analyzed spectrophotometrically at 350 nm wavelength is approx. 2 × 10²-2 × 10³ Gy.     

Three-dimensional polymer gel dosimetry: basic physical properties of the dosimeter

This study concentrated on assessment of the basic physical properties of a polymer gel dosimeter evaluated by NMR. For this, BANG-2 type polymer gel was prepared. The dosimeters were irradiated by ⁶⁰Co gamma photons and by 4, 6 and 18 MV X-ray photons for doses in the range 0–50 Gy. The multi-echo CPMG sequence was used for the evaluation of T₂-relaxation times in the irradiated gel dosimeters. Dependence of 1/T₂ in terms of the following factors was studied: absorbed dose, energy of applied radiation, temperature during NMR evaluation, time between irradiation and NMR evaluation and strength of the magnetic field. An exponential dependence of the 1/T₂ response on absorbed dose in the range 0–50 Gy was observed, while in the range 0–10 Gy the data could be fitted by a linear function. This paper also describes the dependence of 1/T₂ response on: radiation energy, strength of magnetic field and time from irradiation of the dosimeters to NMR evaluation. Increase of gel dosimeter 1/T₂ response with the decrease of the temperature during NMR evaluation has been qantitatively described. The polymer gel dosimetry system used in this study proved that it is a reliable system for three-dimensional dose distribution measurement.