A new method for determining the radon emanation coefficients and radon production rates in different building materials using solid state nuclear track detectors

Radon α-activity concentrations have been measured inside and outside various building materials by combining a calculational method with the solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) technique. Radon emanation coefficients of the studied materials have been evaluated. A new calibration method for determining the radium (²²⁶Ra) and thorium (²³²Th) specific activities of the considered building materials has been developed. The radon production rates per unit volume of the studied materials have been evaluated. The influence of the material porosity on the radon emanation coefficient and radon production rate have been investigated.     

The influence of the lithology and granulation on radon emanation in a sedimentary phosphatic deposit using solid state nuclear track detectors

Samples have been collected from different layers in a sedimentary phosphatic deposit and sieved. Different granulometric fractions have been selected. The uranium and thorium contents have been determined in each phosphate sample and its corresponding selected fractions. Radon (²²²Rn) α-activities per unit volume have been evaluated inside and outside each phosphate sample and its corresponding selected fractions by using CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD). The radon emanation coefficient in each phosphate layer has been determined and the global radon alpha activity outside a parallelepipedic block of the layers studied was evaluated. The influence of the lithology and granulation on the radon emanation has been studied.     

Study of the influence of the lithological and hydrogeological parameters of aquifers on the radon emanation from underground waters using solid state nuclear track detectors

Radon-to-thoron ratios as well as radon and thoron activity concentrations in different underground water samples belonging to different aquifers in the Moroccan Middle Atlas area have been evaluated by LR-115 and CR-39 solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) using a new calibration method. The radon isotope (²²²Rn) was used as a tracer for studying the water exchange between different aquifers of the area studied. The influence of the lithological and hydrogeological parameters of the aquifers on radon emanation were investigated.     

Indoor radon measurement methodology by solid state nuclear track detectors

The measurement of radon using solid state nuclear track detectors is presented. The importance of radon in environmental radiation and to human health is well known and thus the measurement and evaluation of indoor radon is important not only for dosimetry purposes but also for evaluation of public health impacts. In this work we discuss the detection and calibration systems and the etching method of solid state detectors. Some considerations regarding potential problems that can be encountered in measuring indoor radon in an underdeveloped country, and how can they be solved are discussed.     

The influence of the soil and plant natures and pollution on the radon and thoron alpha-activities inside various herbal infusions by using solid state nuclear track detectors

Uranium and thorium contents were determined in samples of various plants in the soils in which the plants were grown, and in herbal infusions made by boiling the plants in potable water, using CR-39 and LR-115 solid state nuclear track detectors. In addition, radon and thoron alpha-activities per unit volume inside the plants, soils and herbal infusions were measured. These measurements were completed by an investigation of the radon transfer between soils and plants and that between plants and herbal infusions, and also by the investigation of the influence of pollution due to different material dusts on the radon and thoron alpha activities inside the plants and their infusions.     

The influence of the lithology and depth on water recharge of wells in two Moroccan Atlantic coastal regions by using solid state nuclear track detectors and radon as a natural tracer

Uranium and thorium contents as well as radon and thoron -activity concentrations were evaluated inside different underground water samples by using a method based on calculating the CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) detection efficiencies for the emitted -particles and measuring the resulting track density rates. The validity of the SSNTD technique utilized was checked by analysing uranium nitrate standard solutions. A relationship between water radon concentration and recharge of wells dug in two Moroccan Atlantic coastal regions, for a given lithology, was found. The influence of the lithology and depth on radon concentration and salinity of well waters studied was investigated.     

Stratigraphical study of two neighboring geological sites by using solid state nuclear track detectors

Kodak LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) have been used for determining uranium contents in different phosphatic sedimentary rock samples. These samples belong to different stratigraphic layers from the upper Cretaceous to Paleogene in the Marrakech neighboring High Atlas north flank area. Interesting information has been obtained on the sedimentological conditions of uranium concentration in the geological sites.     

Determination of natural uranium in biological samples using the solid state nuclear track detector method

For the solution of most of the problems which are connected to the biological and physiological role of natural uranium in plants and animal organisms about 10⁻¹⁴ g uranium should be determined. However most of the physico-chemical methods for the determination of natural uranium in biomaterials are time-consuming and possess considerable error. On the basis of addition and inner standard methods a version of Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD) method has been developed in order to determine the natural uranium in biospecimens. According to the experimental data simple relations have been obtained for the calculation of uranium concentration in biomaterial and minium uranium concentration in biosolution which can be measured by the detector used. Under irradiation of SSNTD at a thermal neutron flux of (3–5)·10¹⁵n·cm⁻² the detector sensitivity is 2.30·10⁻⁹ g U/ml for glass detectors; 9.60·10⁻¹⁰g U/ml for the detectors made from artificial mica.     

Determination of radon using solid state nuclear tracks wireless sensing method

A highly sensitive and selective electrochemiluminescent (ECL) biosensor for the determination of adenosine was developed. Single DNA (capture DNA) was immobilized on the gold electrode through Au-thiol interaction at first. Another DNA modified with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II)-doped silica nanoparticles (Ru-SNPs) that contained adenosine aptamer was then modified on the electrode surface through hybridizing with the capture DNA. In the presence of adenosine, adenosine-aptamer complex is produced rather than aptamer-DNA duplex, resulting with the dissociation of Ru-SNPs-labeled aptamer from the electrode surface and the decrease in the ECL intensity. The decrease of ECL intensity has a direct relationship with the logarithm of adenosine concentration in the range of 1.0×10(-10) to 5.0×10(-6)molL(-1). The detection limit of the proposed method is 3.0×10(-11)molL(-1). The existence of guanosine, cytidine and uridine has little interference with adenosine detection, demonstrating that the developed biosensor owns a high selectivity to adenosine. In addition, the developed biosensor also demonstrates very good reusability, as after being reused for 30 times, its ECL signal still keeps 91% of its original state.     

Investigation of uranium and thorium concentrations in the fluorite beds of Anatolia by using solid state nuclear track detectors

Uranium and thorium concentrations of fluorite samples taken from the main fluorite beds of Anatolia (Turkey) have been determined by fission fragment radiography using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). The fissionable elements concentration of the fluorite samples were found to be 10^–4–10^–7 g/g. The Th/U ratio, obtained for all the fluorite samples, is found to be characteristic for the location of the samples. Some correlations between the concentration of Th and those of lanthanites and concentration of U and that of Mo or Zr are observed.     

Measurement of alpha-decay constant to fission cross section ratio for actinides using solid state nuclear track detectors

A simple technique based on the measurement of the ratio of alpha-decay constant to neutron induced fission cross section for pure actinides using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) is developed for the identification of the actinides in trace levels in pure solutions. The alpha-decay constant to fission cross section ratios for depleted U,²³⁸Pu and²⁴⁰Pu have been measured for the epicadmium neutron induced fission of these actinides. The measured values are (6.19±0.34)·10⁶, (6.95±0.26)·10¹², (2.12±0.95)·10⁹ and (2.18±1.58)·10¹¹ sec⁻¹·cm⁻², respectively. These ratios can be used for the trace level identification of pure actinides.     

Concentrations of radon,thoron and their decay products measured in natural caves and ancient mines by using solid state nuclear track detectors and resulting radiation dose to the members of the public

Alpha- and beta-activities per unit volume of air due to radon (²²²Rn), thoron (²²⁰Rn) and their progenies were measured in the air of natural caves and ancient mines as well as inside different reference atmospheres by using CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). In addition, the radon concentration was continuously measured inside one of the studied caves by using the SSNTDs’ method and AlphaGuard counter. Equilibrium factors between radon and its daughters and between thoron and its progeny were evaluated in the studied atmospheres. Alpha-activities due to ²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Po short-lived radon decay products were determined in different compartments of the respiratory tract of members of the public. The committed equivalent doses due to the ²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Po radon short-lived progeny were evaluated in different tissues of the respiratory tract of the visitors of the considered caves and ancient mines. Annual effective doses due to radon progeny from the inhalation of air by the visitors of the studied caves and ancient mines were evaluated.     

Development of an appropriate method for measuring gross alpha activity concentration in low-mass size-fractionated samples of sediment using solid-state nuclear track detectors

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - A passive technique using solid state nuclear track detectors was developed to detect the low-level gross alpha activity (Aα) in low-mass...     

Property of TS-16N solid state nuclear track detectors as an imaging medium for macroautoradiography of alpha-emitters in biological specimens

Feasibility of TS-16N solid state nuclear track detectors for an imaging medium of rapid autoradiography of alpha-emitters is described. Though a little longer etching time was required, the contrast of autoradiographic image on this detector proved to be superior to CR-39 detectors whose property for macroautoradiography was previously reported by the authors. The resolutions of these two different type detectors were almost equivalent to each other. The autoradiography taken by way of trial proved that this detector could be used to study metabolism and dosimetry of internally deposited alpha-emitters. With further study, the inherent properties of this detector such as low background or high sensitivity should extend the field of track etch imaging technique such as fast neutron radiography.     

Study of gamma irradiation effects on the etching and optical properties of CR-39 solid state nuclear track detector and its application to uranium assay in soil samples

The gamma irradiation effects in the dose range of 2.5?C43.0 Mrad on the etching and optical characteristics of CR-39 solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) have been studied by using etching and UV?CVisible spectroscopic techniques. From the measured bulk etch rates at different temperatures, the activation energies for bulk etching at different doses have also been determined. It is seen that the bulk etch rates increase and the activation energies for bulk etching decrease with the increase in gamma dose. The optical band gaps of the unirradiated and the gamma -irradiated detectors determined from the UV?CVisible spectra were found to decrease with the increase in gamma dose. These results have been explained on the basis of scission of the detector due to gamma irradiation. The present studies can be used for the estimation of gamma dose in the range of 2.5?C43.0 Mrad and can also be used for estimating track registration efficiency in the presence of gamma dose. The CR-39 detector has also been applied for the assay of uranium in some soil samples of Jammu city.     

Study of the influence of porosity on the radon emanation coefficient in different building material samples by combining the SSNTD technique with Monte Carlo simulations

Radon alpha-activities per unit volume have been measured inside and outside different building material samples by using CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD). Radon emanation coefficients of the studied building materials have been evaluated. The porosities of the building material samples studied have been determined by using a Monte Carlo calculational method adapted to the experimental conditions and compared with data obtained by the Archimedes's method. The influence of the building material porosity on the radon emanation coefficient has been investigated.     

Column silylation method for determining endocrine disruptors from environmental water samples by solid phase micro-extraction

In solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), the analyte is partitioned between the coating and the sample and then desorption of the concentrated analyte is followed by GC-MS, where the analytes are thermally desorbed and subsequently separated on the column and quantified by the detector. The SPME method preserves all the advantages, such as simplicity, low cost, on site sampling and does not require solvents. Poly(acrylate) coating fibers have been developed for the extraction of phenols (such as 4-tert-butylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-n-pentylphenol, 4-n-hexylphenol, 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-n-heptylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, 4-n-octylphenol, pentachlorophenol and bisphenol A) in different water samples. The precision of the HS-SPME method ranges from 3–12% RSDs, depending on the compounds analyzed. More accurate results were obtained by HS-SPME with acidification and salting out, where the fiber is located above the liquid sample. The extraction period was 60 min, followed by desorption for 5 min at 300°C. After the analytes were completely desorbed, 1 μl of bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) was injected by ordinary GC-MS injection. The trimethylsilylate peaks were improved significantly compared with free phenol peaks. The addition of salt (saturated sodium chloride) and acidification by hydrochloric acid (pH 2.0) were found to be very important for enhancing the partitioning of the polar phenols into the polymer coating and preventing ionization of the analytes. The method is capable of limits of detection of subparts per billion of the total phenols extracted from environmental water samples.     

Application of solid phase microextraction for the determination of soil fumigants in water and soil samples

The potential of solid phase microextraction (SPME) for the determination of the soil fumigants 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-DCP) and methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) in environmental samples such as soil and water samples has been investigated. Direct immersion SPME followed by GC/ECD/NPD analysis allowed the rapid determination of the two fumigants in water samples, with very little sample manipulation, giving an LOD of 0.5 microg L(-1). Precision, calculated as relative standard deviation (RSD) for six replicates at three concentration levels, was found to be lower than 20% at the concentration levels tested. For the analysis of soil samples, headspace (HS)-SPME combined with GC/ECD/NPD analysis has been applied. Quantification using matrix-matched calibration curves allowed determination of both analytes (MITC and 1-3-DCP) with a LOD of 0.1 microg kg(-1) (RSD < 10%) for the two concentration levels assayed (0.02 and 0.2 mg kg(-1)). The HS-SPME procedure developed in this paper was applied to soil samples from experimental green house plots treated with metham-Na, a soil disinfestation agent that decomposes in soil to MITC. The absence of sample manipulation as well as the low solvent consumption in SPME methodology are among the main advantages of this analytical approach.     

Measurement of alpha-decay constant to fission cross section ratio for 237Np, 241Am and alpha to spontaneous fission branching ratio for 243Am using solid state nuclear track detectors

The alpha-decay constant to fission cross section ratio for epi-cadmium neutron induced fission of ²³⁷Np, ²⁴¹Am have been measured using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). The measured values were (0.63±0.14)^.10⁹ s^-1.cm^-2, (2.31±0.46)^.10¹² s^-1.cm^-2 for ²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am, respectively. The alpha to spontaneous fission branching ratio for ²⁴³Am was also measured to be (2.66±0.50)^.10¹⁰ using SSNTDs. These ratios are useful as signatures for the trace level identification of these actinides.