Liquid scintillation counters calibration stability over long timescales

Liquid scintillation spectrometry is widely used for the analysis of alpha and beta emitting radionuclides. Robust calibration of liquid scintillation (LS) spectrometers is fundamental to accurate LS measurement but at the same time is time consuming and costly, particularly if a wide range of radionuclides are analysed by the laboratory. The frequency of the calibration varies in different laboratories and is based on many practical and operational factors. This work summarizes the observations regarding variations in 1220 Quantulus spectrometers efficiency calibrations performed annually using various radionuclides: ³H ⁶³Ni, ⁵⁵Fe, ³⁶Cl, ⁴⁵Ca, ¹⁴⁷Pm, ²⁴¹Pu, ⁹⁹Tc for a period of 9 years and discusses the implication to calibration frequency.

     

A rapid dissolution procedure to aid initial nuclear forensics investigations of chemically refractory compounds and particles prior to gamma spectrometry

A rapid and effective preparative procedure has been evaluated for the accurate determination of low-energy (40–200 keV) gamma-emitting radionuclides (²¹⁰Pb, ²³⁴Th, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁵U) in uranium ores and uranium ore concentrates (UOCs) using high-resolution gamma ray spectrometry. The measurement of low-energy gamma photons is complicated in heterogeneous samples containing high-density mineral phases and in such situations activity concentrations will be underestimated. This is because attenuation corrections, calculated based on sample mean density, do not properly correct where dense grains are dispersed within a less dense matrix (analogous to a nugget effect). The current method overcomes these problems using a lithium tetraborate fusion that readily dissolves all components including high-density, self-attenuating minerals/compounds. This is the ideal method for dissolving complex, non-volatile components in soils, rocks, mineral concentrates, and other materials where density reduction is required. Lithium borate fusion avoids the need for theoretical efficiency corrections or measurement of matrix matched calibration standards. The resulting homogeneous quenched glass produced can be quickly dissolved in nitric acid producing low-density solutions that can be counted by gamma spectrometry. The effectiveness of the technique is demonstrated using uranium-bearing Certified Reference Materials and provides accurate activity concentration determinations compared to the underestimated activity concentrations derived from direct measurements of a bulk sample. The procedure offers an effective solution for initial nuclear forensic studies where complex refractory minerals or matrices exist. It is also significantly faster, safer and simpler than alternative approaches.     

Oxygen isotope analysis of carbonates in the calcite-dolomite-magnesite solid-solution by high-temperature pyrolysis: initial results

Accurate and efficient measurement of the oxygen isotope composition of carbonates (delta(C) (18)O) based on the mass spectrometric analysis of CO(2) produced by reacting carbonate samples with H(3)PO(4) is compromised by: (1) uncertainties associated with fractionation factors (alpha(CO)(2)C) used to correct measured oxygen isotope values of CO(2)(delta(CO(2)(18)O) to delta(C) (18)O; and (2) the slow reaction rates of many carbonates of geological and environmental interest with H(3)PO(4). In contrast, determination of delta(C) (18)O from analysis of CO produced by high-temperature (>1400 degrees C) pyrolytic reduction, using an elemental analyser coupled to continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (TC/EA CF-IRMS), offers a potentially efficient alternative that measures the isotopic composition of total carbonate oxygen and should, therefore, theoretically be free of fractionation effects. The utility of the TC/EA CF-IRMS technique was tested by analysis of carbonates in the calcite-dolomite-magnesite solid-solution and comparing the results with delta(C) (18)O measured by conventional thermal decomposition/fluorination (TDF) on the same materials. Initial results show that CO yields are dependent on both the chemical composition of the carbonate and the specific pyrolysis conditions. Low gas yields (<100% of predicted yield) are associated with positive (>+0.2 per thousand) deviations in delta(C(TC/EA) (18)O compared with delta(C(TDF) (18)O. At a pyrolysis temperature of 1420 degrees C the difference between delta(C) (18)O measured by TC/EA CF-IRMS and TDF (Delta(C(TC/EA,TDF) (18)O) was found to be negatively correlated with gas yield (r = -0.785) and this suggests that delta(C) (18)O values (with an estimated combined standard uncertainty of +/-0.38 per thousand) could be derived by applying a yield-dependent correction. Increasing the pyrolysis temperature to 1500 degrees C also resulted in a statistically significant correlation with gas yield (r = -0.601), indicating that delta(C) (18)O values (with an estimated uncertainty of +/-0.43 per thousand) could again be corrected using a yield-dependent procedure. Despite significant uncertainty associated with TC/EA CF-IRMS analysis, the magnitude of the uncertainty is similar to that associated with the application of poorly defined values of alpha(CO)(2), (C) used to derive delta(C) (18)O from delta(CO(2) (18)O measured by the H(3)PO(4) method for most common carbonate phases. Consequently, TC/EA CF-IRMS could provide a rapid alternative for the analysis of these phases without any effective deterioration in relative accuracy, while analytical precision could be improved by increasing the number of replicate analyses for both calibration standards and samples. Although automated gas preparation techniques based on the H(3)PO(4) method (ISOCARB, Kiel device, Gas-Bench systems) have the potential to measure delta(CO)(2) (18)O efficiently for specific, slowly reacting phases (e.g. dolomite), problems associated with poorly defined alpha(CO)(2), (C) remain. The application of the Principle of Identical Treatment is not a solution to the analysis of these phases because it assumes that a single fractionation factor may be defined for each phase within a solid-solution regardless of its precise chemical composition. This assumption has yet to be tested adequately.     

The 5-deoxy-5-methylthio-xylofuranose residue in mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan. absolute stereochemistry, linkage position, conformation, and immunomodulatory activity

Mycobacteria produce a cell-surface glycoconjugate, lipoarabinomannan (LAM), which has been shown to be a potent modulator of the immune response that arises from infection by these organisms. Recently, LAM from the human pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. kansasii has been shown to contain an unusual 5-deoxy-5-methylthio-xylofuranose (MTX) residue as well as its corresponding oxidized counterpart, 5-deoxy-5-methylsulfoxy-xylofuranose (MSX). To date, the absolute configuration of these residues and their linkage position to the polysaccharide are unknown, as is their biological role. Through the combined use of chemical synthesis and NMR spectroscopy, we have established that the MTX/MSX residues in these glycoconjugates are of the d-configuration and that they are linked alpha-(1-->4) to a mannopyranose residue in the mannan portion of the glycan. Conformational analysis of the MTX/MSX residue using NMR spectroscopy showed differences in ring conformation and as well as in the rotamer populations about the C-4-C-5 bond, as compared to the parent compound, methyl alpha-d-xylofuranoside. Two of the synthesized disaccharides, 3 and 34, were tested in cytokine induction assays, and neither led to the production of TNF-alpha or IL-12p70. In contrast, both demonstrated modest inhibitory properties when these same cytokines were induced using a preparation of Interferon-gamma and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain (SAC/IFN-gamma). These latter observations suggest that this motif may play a role in the immune response arising from mycobacterial infection.     

Rapid determination of tritium and carbon-14 in urine samples using a combustion technique

Traditionally in bioassay monitoring, ³H determinations in urine have been performed using either direct counting (with or without sample decolourisation) or distillation whilst ¹⁴C has been determined on separate sub-samples following chemical isolation of the carbon from samples. Although these techniques are relatively straightforward they do not permit simultaneous determination of ³H/¹⁴C. For ³H, direct counting can be significantly affected by variations in sample composition/colour resulting in varying degrees of sample quench, does not distinguish between aqueous/organically-bound ³H and is limited to small sample sizes. This study describes the use of purpose built multi-tube combustion furnace for the simultaneous extraction and determination of ³H and ¹⁴C. The technique is insensitive to sample composition and can be adapted to measure Tritiated water (HTO) and organically bound tritium separately. The development of a multi-tube system with integrated cool-down facility permits rapid throughput of high sample numbers and has been proven effective in decommissioning waste characterisation. In addition, the furnace-based technique is capable of processing larger sample sizes, increasing analytical sensitivity and accuracy of dose assessment.     

Determination of Cs and Cs in environmental samples: A review

Radionuclides of caesium are environmentally important since they are formed as significant high yield fission products (¹³⁵Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) and activation products (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁶Cs) during nuclear fission. They originate from a range of nuclear activities such as weapons testing, nuclear reprocessing and nuclear fuel cycle discharges and nuclear accidents. Whilst ¹³⁷Cs, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁶Cs are routinely measurable at high sensitivity by gamma spectrometry, routine detection of long-lived ¹³⁵Cs by radiometric methods is challenging. This measurement is, however, important given its significance in long-term nuclear waste storage and disposal. Furthermore, the ¹³⁵Cs/¹³⁷Cs ratio varies with reactor, weapon and fuel type, and accurate measurement of this ratio can therefore be used as a forensic tool in identifying the source(s) of nuclear contamination. The shorter-lived activation products ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁶Cs have a limited application but provide useful early information on fuel irradiation history and have importance in health physics.     

Rapid on-site radionuclide screening of aqueous waste streams using dip-stick technologies and liquid scintillation counting

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - This paper describes an early-stage evaluation of a purpose-designed extraction/detection system that can be deployed by non-specialists either...     

Painleve analysis for a semi-linear parabolic equation arising in smectic liquid crystals

This article presents a systematic method, employing a Painlevéanalysis for obtaining static and travelling wave solutionsto a semi-linear parabolic equation which frequently arisesin the smectic liquid crystal literature. The equation consideredhas sinusoidal non-linearities and shares some of the featuresof the double sine-Gordon equation; a brief discussion of therelationship of this equation to liquid crystals is also given.     

Variations in the gross alpha and beta activity in surface waters at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston (UK)

N,N,N′,N′-tetra-2-ethylhexyldiglycolamide (T2EHDGA) has been used for the preferential extraction of ⁹⁰Y from its mixture with ⁹⁰Sr from HNO₃ as well as HCl medium. The separation efficiencies have been found out under varying experimental conditions. The extracted species were determined from T2EHDGA concentration variation experiments carried out at 3 M nitric acid as well as HCl and were found out to be Y(X₃)₃·3(TEHDGA)_(o) for both the extraction systems, where X = NO₃ ⁻ and Cl⁻, respectively. Comparison of the T2EHDGA and TODGA based separation methods is also made. In order to avoid third phase formation, iso-decanol has been used as the modifier in all the studies. The modifier content was optimized to 30% for 4 M HCl and 20% for 6 M HNO₃ as the feed aqueous phases. Separation schemes were developed for the separation of carrier free ⁹⁰Y and the purity was checked by the half-life measurement method.     

Pre-concentration of short-lived radionuclides using manganese dioxide precipitation from surface waters

Rapid determination of ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn progeny (²¹⁴Pb, ²¹²Pb, ²¹⁴Bi, ²¹²Bi) is achievable using manganese dioxide (MnO₂) precipitation with analysis by γ-spectrometry. This is of interest to environmental monitoring programmes that utilise gross activity methods to screen for anthropogenic radionuclides. The contribution from these naturally occurring radionuclides (NOR) varies, and is difficult to experimentally measure due to short half-lives (t _½ = 19.9 m–10.64 h) and low environmental activity (<0.1 Bq L^?1). The extraction efficiency of the technique is above 90%, and above 80% for other nuclides (²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U, ²²⁸Ac, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²¹⁰Pb, ⁵⁴Mn). Short-lived NOR have been measured at two surface water locations, and indicates elevated ²¹⁴Bi activity of 4.0 ± 1.1 Bq L^?1.