Document type
ArticleVersion
Accepted versionPublication date
All rights reserved
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/158641
The implications of particle energy and acidic media on gross alpha and gross beta determination using liquid scintillation
Journal Title
Director/Tutor
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Related resource
Abstract
The interaction of humans with radioactivity present in the environment from natural and artificial sources necessitates an evaluation of its risk on human health. Gross alpha and gross beta activities can provide a rapid evaluation of the radioactive content of a sample and can be simultaneously determined by using liquid scintillation counters. However, calibration of the liquid scintillation counter is required and is affected by many factors, such as particle energy and the acidity of the media. This study investigates what effect the particle energy used for calibration has on misclassification and how to account for this misclassification in routine measurements. The variability in measurement produced by the final pH, as well as any acids used in sample treatment, was also studied. These results showed that the most commonly used acid for these types of analyses, HNO3, produced a high amount of misclassifications at very low pH. The results improved when HCl was used to adjust the sample to low pH.
Subject
Subject (English)
Citation
Citation
ZAPATA GARCÍA, Daniel, LLAURADÓ I TARRAGÓ, Montserrat and RAURET I DALMAU, Gemma. The implications of particle energy and acidic media on gross alpha and gross beta determination using liquid scintillation. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 2011. Vol. 70, num. 4, pags. 705-711. ISSN 0969-8043. [consulted: 16 of June of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/158641