Quantification of uranium-238 in environmental samples using gamma-ray spectrometry
A large number of environmental samples are routinely measured world-wide using gamma-ray spectrometry some of its assets being easy sample preparation and comprehensive data for many radionu-clides in one analysis. Although other techniques can be considered more suitable for analysing 238U in environmental samples, it is also routinely done by gamma-ray spectrometry. One mainly uses γ-ray emissions following the decay of the first daughter, 234Th, for determining the 238U activity. However, the low-energy gamma-rays at 63 keV and 92.5 keV are very difficult to quantify in a robust way due to high attenuation and interferences. This paper quantifies parameters affecting the possibility of making robust quantification of 238U via 234Th using gamma-ray spectrometry. It addresses the use of correct decay data, suitable detectors, optimised sample size, enhanced spectral amplification, correction for peak interferences and control of background.
HULT Mikael;
ANDREOTTI Erica;
GONZALEZ DE ORDUNA Raquel;
POMME Stefaan;
YELTEPE Emin;
2013-03-20
EDP Sciences-SIF 2012
JRC62232
2100-014X,
http://www.epj-conferences.org/index.php?option=com_article&access=standard&Itemid=129&url=/articles/epjconf/pdf/2012/06/epjconf_er2010_07005.pdf,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC62232,
10.1051/epjconf/20122407005,
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