Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Design, manufacture, and quality control of a calibration standard source of gamma-ray spectrometry system with filter matrix

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

H. Ranjbar
A. Yousefi

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 11365-8486, Tehran – Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2021.1198
Abstract
Identifying and measuring the radioactivity of airborne particles are a necessary and very important to recognize and estimate the effect of radioactive contamination on human health and the environment. Gamma-ray spectromety is one of the most useful methods for quantitative and qualitative analysis of samples, like air filters. One of the first and necessary steps in performing sample analysis by Gamma-ray spectrometer is to calibrate this equipment, which requires appropriate standard sources. The purpose of this research is to design and manufacture a suitable standard source considering filter geometry and its quality control and validation. For this purpose, a circular HEPA air filter with a diameter of 60 mm was used. Gamma-ray spectrometry system (HPGe) was calibrated by mentioned standard source. The results of counting and quality control of the manufactured source showed the accuracy of source manufacturing method. The validation of manufacturing method by Spike method showed an acceptable error of 8%.

Highlights

1. A.C. Chamberlain, Radioactive aerosols. Cambridge University Press; 3 (2004).

 

2. A. Mohamed, Activity size distributions of some naturally occurring radionuclides 7Be, 40K and 212Pb in indoor and outdoor environments. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 62(5),751-757 (2005).

 

3. C. Papastefanou, Radioactive aerosols. Radioactivity in the Environment. 12, 11-58 (2008).

 

4. L. Done, M.R. Ioan, Minimum Detectable Activity in gamma spectrometry and its use in low level activity measurements. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 114, 28-32 (2016).

 

5. H. Bem, et al, Determination of radioactivity in air filters by alpha and gamma spectrometry. Nukleonika. 47(2),87-91 (2002).

 

6. B.L. Yang, et al, Performances of different efficiency calibration methods of high-purity-germanium gamma-ray spectrometry in an inter-comparison exercise. Nuclear Science and Techniques. 30(3), 37 (2019).

 

7. G. Xhixha, et al, Calibration of HPGe detectors using certified reference materials of natural origin. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry. 307(2), 1507-1517 (2016).

 

8. A.M. Ababneh, M.M. Eyadeh, Coincidence summing corrections in HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry for Marinelli-beakers geometry using peak to total (P/T) calibration. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences. 8(3), 323-327 (2015).

 

9. A. Listkowska, et al, Preparation method and quality control of multigamma volume sources with different matrices. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 134, 126-130 (2018).

 

10. C. Bailat, et al, Development, design and validation of solid reference samples. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 87, 480-484 (2014).

 

11. F. Tzika, et al, 60Co in cast steel matrix: A European interlaboratory comparison for the characterisation of new activity standards for calibration of gamma-ray spectrometers in metallurgy. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 114, 167-172 (2016).

Keywords

Standard source
Gamma-ray spectrometry
Efficiency calibration
Air filter
  • 1. A.C. Chamberlain, Radioactive aerosols. Cambridge University Press; 3 (2004).

     

    2. A. Mohamed, Activity size distributions of some naturally occurring radionuclides 7Be, 40K and 212Pb in indoor and outdoor environments. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 62(5),751-757 (2005).

     

    3. C. Papastefanou, Radioactive aerosols. Radioactivity in the Environment. 12, 11-58 (2008).

     

    4. L. Done, M.R. Ioan, Minimum Detectable Activity in gamma spectrometry and its use in low level activity measurements. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 114, 28-32 (2016).

     

    5. H. Bem, et al, Determination of radioactivity in air filters by alpha and gamma spectrometry. Nukleonika. 47(2),87-91 (2002).

     

    6. B.L. Yang, et al, Performances of different efficiency calibration methods of high-purity-germanium gamma-ray spectrometry in an inter-comparison exercise. Nuclear Science and Techniques. 30(3), 37 (2019).

     

    7. G. Xhixha, et al, Calibration of HPGe detectors using certified reference materials of natural origin. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry. 307(2), 1507-1517 (2016).

     

    8. A.M. Ababneh, M.M. Eyadeh, Coincidence summing corrections in HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry for Marinelli-beakers geometry using peak to total (P/T) calibration. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences. 8(3), 323-327 (2015).

     

    9. A. Listkowska, et al, Preparation method and quality control of multigamma volume sources with different matrices. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 134, 126-130 (2018).

     

    10. C. Bailat, et al, Development, design and validation of solid reference samples. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 87, 480-484 (2014).

     

    11. F. Tzika, et al, 60Co in cast steel matrix: A European interlaboratory comparison for the characterisation of new activity standards for calibration of gamma-ray spectrometers in metallurgy. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 114, 167-172 (2016).

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