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Optimal Method of Radon Analysis in Groundwater using Ultra Low-Level Liquid Scintillation Counter  

Kim Yong-Je (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM))
Cho Soo-Young (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM))
Yoon Yoon-Yeol (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM))
Lee Kil-Yong (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM))
Publication Information
Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment / v.11, no.5, 2006 , pp. 59-66 More about this Journal
Abstract
Optimal method of radon analysis in groundwater was studied using ultra low-level liquid scintillation counter (ULLLSC) which is well known as an analytical instrument for analyzing the alpha and beta radionuclides in environmental materials. Optimization of pulse shape analyzer (PSA) in operating the LSC was performed with $^{241}Am\;and\;^{90}Sr/^{90}Y$ as well as $^{226}Ra$ Also, the chemical quenching of scintillation generation and the color quenching of the generated photon to photomultiplier tubes (PMT) were determined their effects not only to decrease the analytical efficiency but also to change the optimal PSA level and background due to high ion contents of groundwaters. The optimal PSA level was shown in the range of 90 to 110 with less than 5% error. The effects of high ion contents in groundwater for the analytical efficiency show within 10% error from the different ion contents. The chloroform as a quenching agent was used to determine the analytical efficiency with the different amount, showing that the efficiency decreases 20% using the 2% of chloroform.
Keywords
Quantulus LSC; Radon; Groundwater; PSA; Quenching;
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