Optimization Method to Determine Gross Alpha-Beta in Water Samples Using Liquid Scintillation Counter

Waleed M. Abdellah

National Center for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2013.59092                

Abstract

Liquid scintillation counting (LSC) is an adequate nuclear technique to determine radioactivity levels, as verified by this study for the determination of the gross alpha and beta activities of aqueous samples because of its simplicity and low associated cost comparison with other techniques. This paper discusses a new approach to the monitoring of gross alpha and gross beta activities in water. The method consists of using pulse decay discrimination (PDD) liquid scintillation counting LSC of 2 ml of the sample after conditioning with 12 ml of AB-Ultima Gold LSC cocktail, and PDD 139 condition. Different factors that affected on the counting efficiency were studied such as quench reaction, volume of sample, and type of vial. The gross alpha and gross beta particle activity measurement using ⁴⁰K and ²⁴³Am with different activities concentration for efficiency determination. The calculated detection limits were 0.07 Bq/l and 0.12 Bq/l for gross alpha and gross beta respectively for 500 min measurements of samples produced by concentration of one liter of water.

Keywords

Water; LSC; Pulse Decay Discrimination; Alpha; Beta

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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