Determination of U, Th and K in bricks by gamma -ray spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis and neutron activation analysis

0479667 - ÚJF 2018 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Bártová, H. - Kučera, Jan - Musílek, L. - Trojek, T. - Gregorová, E.
Determination of U, Th and K in bricks by gamma -ray spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis and neutron activation analysis.
Radiation Physics and Chemistry. Roč. 140, NOV (2017), s. 161-166. ISSN 0969-806X. E-ISSN 1879-0895
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LM2015056
Institutional support: RVO:61389005
Keywords : Gamma-ray spectrometry * neutron activation analysis * environmental dosimetry
OECD category: Analytical chemistry
Impact factor: 1.435, year: 2017

Knowledge of the content of natural radionuclides in bricks can be important in some cases in dosimetry and application of ionizing radiation. Dosimetry of naturally occurring radionuclides in matter (NORM) in general is one of them, the other one, related to radiation protection, is radon exposure evaluation, and finally, it is needed for the thermoluminescence (TL) dating method. The internal dose rate inside bricks is caused mostly by contributions of the natural radionuclides U-238, Th-232, radionuclides of their decay chains, and 40K. The decay chain of U-238 is usually much less important.

The concentrations of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 were measured by various methods, namely by gamma -ray spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), and neutron activation analysis (NAA) which was used as a reference method. These methods were compared from the point of view of accuracy, limit of detection (LOD), amount of sample needed and sample handling, time demands, and instrument availability.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0275637