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  • P-ISSN 1225-0163
  • E-ISSN 2288-8985

Analysis of 226Ra in the Groundwater Using the Gamma-ray Spectroscopy

Analytical Science and Technology / Analytical Science and Technology, (P)1225-0163; (E)2288-8985
2003, v.16 no.1, pp.39-47




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Abstract

The measurement of radium (<TEX>$^{226}Ra$</TEX>) in the groundwater was established using <TEX>${\gamma}$</TEX>-ray spectroscopy without sample preparation. The background interference by air borne radon daughter nuclides was reduced by <TEX>$N_2$</TEX> gas flow into the counting chamber. Leakage of radon gas produced in the radioactive equilibrium with radium and its daughter nuclides was prevented by use of the air-tighted aluminium container. We investigated the effect of air layer in the counting container. Radioactivity variation due to emanation of radon into the air layer was within the counting error range 5%. When the nitrogen gas was flowed around the detector, peak counts of <TEX>${\gamma}$</TEX>-rays from the daughters of airborne radon was decreased and detection limit was decreased to 0.02 Bq/L. The detection limit of detector was lower than 0.74 Bq/L, the <TEX>$^{226}Ra$</TEX> Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) in the groundwater proposed by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It was confirmed that <TEX>$^{226}Ra$</TEX> radioactivity in the groundwater could be determined by the <TEX>${\gamma}$</TEX>-ray spectroscopy.

keywords
radium, HPGe detector, MCL, radioactive equilibrium, background reduction


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