Radioactivity measurement with a plastic scintillation vial

Liquid scintillation counting is widely used to measure radioactivity, but it generates radioactive organic liquid waste. Not to generate the liquid waste using a liquid scintillation counter, novel counting method with a plastic scintillation vial was designed. The counting efficiency for ³²P was 10–40% and that for ¹²⁵I was 4–8%. The efficiency depended on the sample volume. The color quenching effect was negligible. No radioactive liquid waste was generated by this method. In addition, you can reuse the measured sample.     

Radioactivity measurement of cylindrical sources by gamma-ray spectrometry

Radioaactive samples in cylindrical beakers have been measured using a high purity Ge spectrometer. Self-attenuation effects at various densities of the radioactive samples filled in cylindrical beakers were studied by experimenal and theoretical methods. Coincidence summing effects for specific nuclides were also determined from the measurements of full-energy peak efficiencies in a given source-to-detector geometry.     

Development of metrology for pH measurement in Thailand

It has not been long that metrology is well accepted as an important part in analytical chemistry since it helps the chemists to receive the best measurement and accurate results with traceability. The National Institute of Metrology Thailand (NIMT), which is a public agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology, not only focuses on physical standards but also provides and maintains standards in chemical field. pH measurement is one of the most widely used in the laboratories including industries and medical area in Thailand. The chemical laboratory starts working on the project with the objective of disseminating an accurate result in routine pH measurement. In 2002, the laboratory provided a service in calibration of pH meter and organized the first local interlaboratory comparison program (NIMT–C-ILC-1: pH buffer) in pH measurement. There were three buffer solution samples in the range of acid, neutral, and base. A total of 44 laboratories participated in this program. The NIMT chemical laboratory also participated in the proficiency testing program that was conducted by PSB Corporation Testing Group in Singapore. In 2003, NIMT started research in preparation of secondary buffers by using highly accurate pH meters with glass electrode systems. The laboratory produced three secondary buffers, which were pH 4.01, 6.86, and 9.18 with uncertainty 0.020 pH at 25°C. The competence of the laboratory was shown by the measurement results of the pilot study (APMP.QM-P06), which was organized by the APMP electrochemical analysis working group (EAWG/TCQM) in 2005. The title of this study was “pH determination of two phosphate buffers by Harned cell method and glass electrode method”. NIMT aims to achieve for establishment of the primary method for pH measurement in the near future. Presented at -- “BERM-10” -- April 2006, Charleston, SC, USA     

Radioactivity distribution measurement of various natural material surfaces with Imaging Plate

Distribution images of natural radioactivity in natural materials such as vegetables were obtained by using Imaging Plate. In such cases, it is necessary to reduce background radiation intensity by one order or more. Graded shielding is very important. Especially, the innermost surface of a shielding box should be covered with acrylic resin plate. We obtained natural radioactivity distribution images of vegetables, sea food, meat etc. Mostly -rays emitted from⁴⁰K print the radioactivity distribution image. Comparison between -ray intensity of KCl solution measured with HPGe detector and that of natural material specimen gave the radioactivity around 0.060.4 Bq/g depending on the kind and the part of specimens.     

Radioactivity in coffee

This research was dedicated to the study of the background levels of ²¹⁰Po and natural gamma emitters as ⁴⁰K, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹⁴Bi, ²²⁸Ac, ²¹²Pb and ²¹²Bi in coffee powder and in coffee beverage; also the artificial ¹³⁷Cs was determined. In the coffee powder the mean ²¹⁰Po activity resulted 7.25 ± 2.25 × 10^?2 Bq kg^?1. ⁴⁰K showed a mean activity of 907.4 ± 115.6 Bq kg^?1. The mean activity concentration of ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹⁴Bi, indicators of ²²⁶Ra, given as mean value of the two radionuclides, resulted 10.61 ± 4.02 Bq kg^?1. ²²⁸Ac, ²²⁸Ra indicator, showed a mean activity concentration of 13.73 ± 3.20 Bq kg^?1. The mean activity concentration of ²¹²Pb, ²²⁴Ra indicator, was 8.28 ± 2.88 Bq kg^?1. ²⁰⁸Tl, ²²⁴Ra indicator, presented a mean activity concentration of 11.03 ± 4.34 Bq kg^?1. In all samples, the artifical ¹³⁷Cs resulted below the detection limit (2.0 Bq kg^?1). The arithmetical mean value of percentage of ²¹⁰Po extraction in coffee beverage resulted 20.5 ± 6.9. The percentage of transfer of gamma emitters,⁴⁰K, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹⁴Bi, ²²⁸Ac, ²¹²Pb, ²⁰⁸Tl resulted of 80.0, 33.5, 24.7, 30.0, 35.1 and 53.5 % for ⁴⁰K, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹⁴Bi, ²²⁸Ac, ²¹²Pb and ²⁰⁸Tl respectively.     

Radioactivity in deuterated compounds

Commercially available D₂O and deuterated toluene have been measured with a liquid scintillation spectrometer and were found to contain 2.71–6.15 Bq of tritium in 1 ml of D₂O, and 1.10 Bq of tritium in 1 ml of deuterated toluene.     

Radioactivity in monitoring materials processing

Monitoring of the concentration of actinides in process streams and waste materials can be effectively carried out by detecting and measuring their radioactive emissions. Such monitoring techniques lead to more efficient control of the process, and also aid in the minimisation of losses to the waste and better accounting of the nuclear materials. This paper provides an overview of some of the techniques such as on-line alpha monitoring, passive and active neutron assay and gamma counting, and also describes the monitoring systems which have been developed in our laboratory for use in a reprocessing plant.     

Radioactivity of coals and fly ashes

The level and the behavior of the naturally occurring primordial radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Pb, ²³²Th, ²²⁸Ra and ⁴⁰K in coals and fly ashes are described. The activity concentrations of the examined coals and originated from coal mines in Greece ranged from 117 to 435 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²³⁸U, from 44 to 255 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²²⁶Ra, from 59 to 205 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²¹⁰Pb, from 9 to 41 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²²⁸Ra and from 59 to 227 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰K. These levels are comparable to those appeared in coals of different countries worldwide. The activity concentrations of the examined fly ashes and produced in coal-fired power plants in Greece ranged from 263 to 950 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²³⁸U, from 142 to 605 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²²⁶Ra, from 133 to 428 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²¹⁰Pb, from 27 to 68 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²²⁸Ra and from 204 to 382 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰K. The results showed that there is an enrichment of the radionuclides in fly ash relative to the input coal during the combustion process. The enrichment factors (EF) ranged from 0.60 to 0.76 for ²³⁸U, from 0.69 to 1.07 for ²²⁶Ra, from 0.57 to 0.75 for ²¹⁰Pb, from 0.86 to 1.11 for ²²⁸Ra and from 0.95 to 1.10 for ⁴⁰K.     

Radioactivity in samples of cleaning materials

ABSTRACT

The cleaning products have widespread use in daily life; they are made from various complex chemical materials and their containment of radioactive material is possible; so to keep background radiation, found in our environment at as low a level as possible, the radioactivity of these products has been investigated in this research. The cleaning material products (soap, powder detergent, cloth washer and chlorine detergent) traded in the Iraqi market from both local and imported production undergo an examination to record gamma activity which can be emitted due to the existence of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ²²²Rn. Gamma spectrometry techniques and radon concentration measurement equipments have been used to evaluate the level of radiation activity of these products. All results of the samples that have been studied have shown the levels of natural radioactivity is lower than the global average levels recommended by UNSCEAR, which are 30, 32 and 400 Bq/kg for ²³⁸ U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, respectively; also the values of Raeq and Hex were lower than the global average recommended by OECD and ICRP, respectively. Finally, it could be concluded that no significant hazard can be raised.     

宝兴大理石矿的放射性检测

宝兴县境内的大理石资源以其白度高、储量丰、品质优、易开采而享誉中外。对四川省宝兴县陇东镇大理石矿区进行了放射性环境地质调查,通过对取回的大理石样品中226Ra、232Th、40K这3种核素的比活度的测定,根据比活度换算出这几种核素的外照射指数和内照射指数,把所得结果和中华人民共和国国家标准《建筑材料放射性核素限量》中规定的建筑性材料分类标准作对比后发现其内照射指数与外照射指数都符合《建筑材料放射性核素限量》中A类建筑材料和装饰材料的要求,它的产销与适用范围不受限制。     

钨钢配饰的放射性检测

为检测配饰材料中的天然放射性,用γ能谱法测定了钨钢表壳材料中放射性核素镭-226、钍-232和钾-40的放射性比活度;中子活化分析方法研究了作为手表壳体的钨钢配饰材料的基本成分,为科学选择配饰提供理论依据。     

Radioactivity standards for environmental monitoring

The low-level radioactivity laboratory in the Radioactivity Section of the National Bureau of Standards, and its work in producing standards for monitoring in the environment, are described. Contribution of the National Bureau of Standards, not subject to copyright.     

Radioactivity in groundwater along the borders of Oman and UAE

Characterizing the quality and radioactivity of groundwater is vital as it represents valuable resource in arid regions. Here we present radioactivity level in groundwater collected from wells in a region along the border between Sultanate of Oman and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aquifers are alluvium deposits (silt, sand and gravel) and the measured groundwater radioactivity (including ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U, ²²⁶Ra, ²²²Rn, gross-α and gross-β) indicates values below the WHO permissible limits for drinking water. The results also show large difference in radioactivity fingerprints, in particular for ²²⁶Ra and ²²²Rn within the investigated aquifers. The data further indicate lower radioactivity in groundwater of the alluviums compared to the carbonate aquifers in the region. This feature makes the alluvium aquifers valuable reservoirs that should be carefully exploited as a source of groundwater. As this is the first investigation on the radioactivity of groundwater in alluvial aquifers in the region, it suggests that other alluvial deposits, particularly those inland and far from the marine water intrusion or seepage from carbonate rocks would have low radioactivity fingerprints.     

Radioactivity concentrations in sediment and mussel of Bosphorus and Golden Horn

In the present study, mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Lamarck, 1819) and sediment samples were collected from the Bosphorus strait and the Golden Horn estuary in 2008 and 2009. Activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th and ²³⁸U were measured using a gamma spectrometer equipped with HPGe detector. Sediment samples were separated into <63 μm and >63 μm particle fractions. Analysis of radionuclides was carried out on these two fractions of sediment as well as the soft and shell tissues of mussels. Ranges of radioactivity concentrations in the soft parts of mussels were as follows: ¹³⁷Cs, 0.86–2.43; ⁴⁰K: 261.1–496.7; ²³²Th: 0.49–3.58; and ²³⁸U: BDL (below detection limit)-1.38 Bq kg⁻¹ in dry weight. Ranges of radioactivity concentrations in the <63 and >63 sediment fractions were as follows: ¹³⁷Cs, 8.58–67.92 and 1.12–26.40, ⁴⁰K, 341.4–683.0 and 281.9–662.2; ²³²Th, 10.97–20.16 and 7.18–19.18 and ²³⁸U, 13.97–27.25 and 6.41–18 Bq kg⁻¹ in dry weight, respectively. The effect of some physical–chemical parameters on the radionuclide accumulation was also examined in the sediment samples. All data in the current study were compared with data in the literature.     

Radioactivity contents in building materials used in Hong Kong

The radioactivity contents in building materials used in Hong Kong were measured to determine the sources of the high indoor radon concentrations observed in local buildings. The radium contents and the radon emanation coefficients of different building materials were measured by high resolution γ-ray spectroscopy using germanium detectors. The radon exhalation rates were measured using scintillation cells by circulating the exhaled radon from building materials and obtaining the initial growth rates. The radium content and the radon exhalation rates of concrete and bricks used in Hong Kong were found to be higher than those in some other countries, resulting in high indoor radon concentrations probably due to the high radioactivity contents in the aggregates, granitic in nature, used in building materials.