Liquid scintillation counting for determination of radionuclides in environmental and nuclear application

Abstract

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Radioanalysis of ultra-low level radionuclides for environmental tracer studies and decommissioning of nuclear facilities

“…is the most often used techniques for measurement of pure beta emitting radionuclides (including those decay by internal conversion) [43], and low background GM counter especially those equipped with anti-coincidence device is also an often used technique for measurement of radionuclides emitting high energy beta particles at low level in the environment. Alpha spectrometry is still the dominant technique for measurement of the alpha emitting radionuclides, especially the relative short lived alpha radionuclides (e.g.…”

Development of 3H, 14C, 41Ca, 55Fe, 63Ni radiochemical analysis methods in activated concrete samples

“…In general, the radionuclides of interest are first separated from the matrix, then separated and purified from other radionuclides and, finally, measured using liquid scintillation counting (LSC). Other measurement techniques (e.g., X-ray, proportional counters, and mass spectrometry) are available but not as often utilised [1]. Due to the long separation and purification processes, the yields of the analytes of interest are corrected in the end of the procedure by using analytical measurement techniques.…”

“…Also, standard addition method, in which radioactive standard is added and analysed, can be used. 3 H and 14 C yields are determined experimentally using standard solutions, because utilisation of corresponding stable elements (e.g., stable 56 Fe for 55 Fe) is not viable due to the difficulties of 1 H and 12 C analysis.…”

Radium interference during radon measurements in water: comparison of one- and two-phase liquid scintillation counting

“…LSC can measure Ra indirectly through 222 Rn measurement, since 222 Rn is generated by 226 Ra decay inside a scintillation vial and spontaneously extracted to a water-immiscible scintillation cocktail from the aqueous phase ( 6 ). Currently the most popular technique for 226 Ra determination is low background LSC coupled to α/β discrimination ( 9 ). A recent comparison of various analytical methods applied to determine 226 Ra in water (alpha, gamma, and liquid scintillation spectrometry) singled out LSC measurements of 226 Ra and 228 Ra on Quantulus 1220 as the most accurate ( 10 ).…”

“…There are two variations of LSC for 222 Rn/ 226 Ra determination – one- and two-phase – which depends on whether the water in a sample is mixed with (emulsified) or separated from the scintillation cocktail. Both are highly sensitive, accurate, and precise, and involve very simple and inexpensive preparation and quick automatic counting of a large number of samples (sample counting time is a few hours maximum, typically about one hour) ( 9 , 13 ).…”