A method to determine 238U activity in environmental soil samples by using 63.3-keV-photopeak-gamma HPGe spectrometer

Determination of 235U/238U ratio by low energy gamma rays: an experimental evaluation

“…234 Th is an alpha particle emitter leading to the excited states of 234 Pa. From these states, two gamma ray lines with acceptable energies and intensities are emitted (63.3 keV, I γ = 4.8%, and 92.6 keV (D), I γ = 5.58%). Inspite of self-absorption and efficiency calibration problems, these lines are frequently [16][17][18] used for 238 U determination. This approach is based on the assumption that the 238 U and its first daughter with a half-life of 24.1 d are in radioactive equilibrium.…”

Spectral interference corrections for the measurement of 238U in materials rich in thorium by a high resolution γ-ray spectrometry

“…For instance, it is reported that the $92.6 keV peak does not give an accurate figure of uranium activity for the case of the samples rich in thorium (Huy and Luyen, 2003). The motivation for this study is that the contributions from several important spectral interferences for the 63.3 and $92.6 keV peaks of 234 Th cannot be neglected especially for the samples rich in natural thorium.…”

Laboratory Enrichment of Radioactive Assemblages and Estimation of Thorium and Uranium Radioactivity in Fractions Separated from Placer Sands in Southeast Bangladesh

“…The radioactivity of 238 U and 232 Th in the samples cannot be quantified directly by gamma-ray spectrometry due to the absence of measurable distinct gamma photopeaks (ICRP 1983). In the uranium series, the immediate daughter 234 Th, which is in secular equilibrium with 238 U, emits 63.29 keV (4.8 %) (Huy and Luyen 2004;Chinnaesakki et al 2010). Since the photopeaks of the Ka 1 X-ray of Th (93.35 keV) and the K b1 X-ray of Rn (94.87 keV) would interfere with 92.8 keV of 234 Th, the peak was not used in the present study.…”