• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2009

Dihexyloctanamide(DHOA) was used as an extractant or phase modifier with the diamide extractants in a solvent extraction process for a radioactive liquid waste treatment. The degradation compounds of the DHOA extractant, irradiated with $^{60}Co$ gamma ray, were octanoic acid and dihexylamine which are identified by a Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR) and gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer(GC/MS) analysis, and determined by the GC/MS with selected ion monitoring(SIM) mode. Retention behavior of octanoic acid, tridecane (internal standard) and dihexylamine in total ion chromatogram (TIC) were 8.65 min., 9.79 min., and 10.27 min., respectively. With increasing the absorbed dose of the $\gamma$-ray irradiated DHOA, the concentration of octanoic acid was decreased and that of dihexylamine was increased.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.403-411
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• 2008

Dimethyldibutyltetradecylmalonamide (DMDBTDMA) extractant was used in a solvent extraction process for a radioactive liquid waste treatment. For the study of radiolysis phenomena, DMDBTDMA was synthesized and the degradation compounds (n-methylbutylamine, tetradecane, 1-tetradecanol) in the DMDBTDMA extractant, irradiated with $^{60}Co$ gamma ray, were identified and determined as radiolysis products by a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) analysis and GC/MS with selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Retention behavior of n-methylbutylamine, n-dodecane, tetradecane and 1-tetradecanol in the total ion chromatogram with the standard materials and n-dodecane as the internal standard (ISTD) were 2.35 min., 8.83 min., 10.68 min. and 12.75 min., respectively. In the case of tetradecane, there was a linear relationship between the concentration of the tetradecane and the absorbed dose of the ${\gamma}$-ray irradiated DMDBTDMA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.287-292
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• 2014

In this study, the neutron capture cross section of $^{180}Ta$(natural existence ratio: 0.012 %) obtain by measuring has been compared with the evaluated data for the capture data. In generally, the neutron capture resonance is defined as Breit-Wigner formula. The formula consists of the resonance parameters such as neutron width, total width and neutron width. However in the case of $^{180}Ta$, these are very poor experimental neutron capture cross section data and resonance information in below 10 eV. Therefore, in the study, we analyzed the neutron resonance of $^{180}Ta$ with the measuring the prompt gamma-ray from the sample. And the resonance was compared with the evaluated data by Mughabghab, ENDF/B-VII, JEFF-3.1 and TENDL 2012. Neutron sources from photonuclear reaction with 46-MeV electron linear accelerator at Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University used for cross section measurement of $^{180}Ta(n,{\gamma})^{181}Ta$ reaction. $BGO(Bi_4Ge_3O_{12})$ scintillation detectors used for measurement of the prompt gamma ray from the $^{180}Ta(n,{\gamma})^{181}Ta$ reaction. The BGO spectrometer was composed geometrically as total energy absorption detector.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2007

Various kinds of RI wastes are discharged from licensed organizations of radioisotopes les such as hospitals and clinic organizations, educational organizations, research institutions, and public organizations. Radioiodines such as $^{125}I\;and\;^{131}I$ are radioisotopes mainly used in nuclear medicine and industry. A method for the determination of radioiodines in RI wastes has been applied to measure low level activity using acid decomposition method and HPGe gamma ray spectrometer. Prior to analysis of real samples, $^{131}I$ reference solution and 10 g of yellow tissue paper was added to flask in mantle and was heated in 100 mL of 0.4 N $K_2Cr_2O_7$ and 100 mL of 9 M $H_2SO_4$, and then distilled after adding 10 mL of 30% $H_2PO_3$ and 1 mL of 30% $H_2O_2$. The condensed iodine by circulator was extracted into $CCl_4$, then back-extracted into the aqueous phase with 10 mL of 5% $K_2SO_2$ solution. Finally, $^{131}I$ was measured at 364.48 keV using HPGe gamma ray spectrometer after precipitation and filtration. Chemical yield of three steps such as acid decomposition process, chemical separation process, and precipitation and filtration process was more han 94% respectively, MDA(Minimum Detectable Activity) of $^{131}I$ at this analytical condition was 0.6 Bq/g.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.2564-2571
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• 2022

SiPMs are generally coupled into whole columns in gamma energy spectrum measurement, but the relationship between the distribution of whole SiPM columns and the energy resolution of the measured energy spectra is rarely reported. In this work, ∅ 3 × 3 inch NaI scintillator is placed on an 8 × 8 SiPM array, and the energy resolution of the ¹³⁷Cs peak at 662 keV corresponding to the γ-ray is selected as a reference. Each SiPM is switched to explore the influence of the number of SiPM arrays, distribution position, and reflective layer on the energy resolution of SiPMs. Results show that without coupling, the energy resolution is greatly improved when the number of SiPMs ranges from 4 to 32. However, after 32 slices (the area covered by SiPMs relative to the scintillator reaches 25.9%), the improvement in energy resolution and total pulse count is not obvious. In addition, the position of SiPMs relative to the scintillator does not exert much impact on the energy resolution. Results also indicate that by adding a reflective film (ESR), the energy resolution of the tested group increases by 10.38% on average. This work can provide a reference for the design and application of miniaturized SiPM gamma spectrometers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.207-215
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• 2024

This study focuses on measuring the levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the soil of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, as well as the associated health hazard. Thirty (30) soil samples were collected from various locations and analyzed for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K radioactivity levels using a High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer with a photo-peak efficiency of approximately 52.3%. The average values obtained for these radionuclides are 35.6 ± 5.7 Bqkg^-1, 47 ± 12.5 Bqkg^-1, and 877 ± 153 Bqkg^-1, respectively. The level of ²³²Th is slightly higher and ⁴⁰K is 2.2 times higher than the internationally recommended limit of 30 Bqkg^-1 and 400 Bqkg^-1, respectively. Various parameters were calculated based on the results obtained, including Radium Equivalent (Ra_eq), External Hazard (H_ex), Absorbed Dose Rate (D), Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose (AGDE), Annual Effective Dose Rate, and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), which are 170.3 ± 24 Bqkg^-1, 0.46 ± 0.06 Bqkg^-1, 81.4 ± 2.04 nGy h^-1, 582 ± 78.08 µSvy^-1, 99.8 ± 13.5 µSv Gy^-1, and 0.349 ± 0.04, respectively. These values are below the limits recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in 2002. This study highlights the potential radiation threats associated with natural radioactivity levels in the soil of Swabi and provides valuable information for public health and safety.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.2258-2265
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• 2024

The present investigation aims to study the role of Pr₂O₃ on the structural, physical, and radiation shielding properties of a dense cadmium lead borate glass. The XRD was used to affirm the glassy amorphous structure of fabricated sample materials. Moreover, the FTIR was used to record the change in the FT-IR spectra due to the addition of Pr₂O₃ in the wavenumber interval between 400 and 4000 cm^-1. The features of glass surfaces and the elemental analyses for the synthesized Pr₂O₃-reinforced cadmium lead borate glasses were performed using a SEM, supported by an energy-dispersive spectrometer. The γ-ray protection capacity was evaluated using the Monte Carlo method in a wide energy interval ranging between 0.015 and 15 MeV. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) at 1 MeV was reduced by a factor of 10 % from 0.372 cm^-1 to 0.340 cm^-1. The decrease in the LAC values negatively affected the other shielding properties such as half-value thickness and the transmission factor. Although the linear attenuation coefficient is decreased slightly with the partial substitution of CdO by Pr₂O₃ compound, the fabricated glass samples still have a high shielding capacity compared to the traditional commercial glasses as well as previous similar reported glasses.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1282-1288
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• 2020

In the first study, the Radon emanation and radiological hazards associated with radionuclides in soil samples, collected from 9 various date palm farms located in 3 different districts in Saudi Arabia were determined through a high purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer. The estimated average values of Radon emanation coefficient and Radon mass exhalation rate for soil samples were 0.535 ± 0.016 and 50.063 ± 7.901 mBqkg^-1h^-1, respectively. The annual effective dose of radionuclides in all sampling locations was found to be lower than UNSCEAR's recommended level of 0.07 mSvy^-1 for soil in an outdoor environment. In the secondary study, gross α and gross β activities in soil and date palm pits samples were measured by a low background α/β counting system. Average values of gross α and gross β activities in soil and date palm pits samples were 5.761 ± 0.360 Bqkg^-1, 38.219 ± 8.619 Bqkg^-1 and 0.556 ± 0.142 Bqkg^-1, 24.266 ± 1.711 Bqkg^-1, respectively.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 2022

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine radioactive concentrations in fertilizers known to contain essential nutrients. Results of this study could be used as basic data to monitor the impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment and public health. Nitrogen fertilizers, calcium fertilizers, sulfur fertilizers, phosphate acid fertilizers, and potassium chloride fertilizers were used in this study. Materials and Methods: Five chemical fertilizers were pulverized, placed in polyethylene containers, and weighed. The time to measure each specimen was set to be 3,600 seconds for a scintillator-based gamma-ray spectroscopy system. Concentration of gamma radionuclide was analyzed based on obtained spectra. At the end of the measurement, the spectrum file was stored and used to calculate radioactive concentrations using a gamma-ray spectrometer software. Results and Discussion: In the nitrogen fertilizer, 3.49 ± 5.71 Bq/kg of ¹³⁷Cs, 34.43 ± 7.61 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs, and 569.16 ± 91.15 of ⁴⁰K were detected whereas ¹³¹I was not detected. In the calcium fertilizer, 5.74 ± 4.40 Bq/kg of ¹³⁷Cs (the highest concentration among all fertilizers), 22.37 ± 5.39 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs, and 433.67 ± 64.24 Bq/kg of ⁴⁰K were detected whereas ¹³¹I was not detected. In the sulfur fertilizer, 347.31 ± 55.73 Bq/kg of ⁴⁰K, 19.42 ± 4.53 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs, 2.21 ± 3.49 of ¹³⁷Cs, and 0.04 ± 0.22 Bq/Kg of ¹³¹I were detected. In the phosphoric acid fertilizer, 70,007.34 ± 844.18 Bq/kg of ⁴⁰K (the highest concentration among all fertilizers) and 46.07 ± 70.40 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs were detected whereas neither ¹³⁷Cs nor ¹³¹I was detected. In the potassium chloride fertilizer, 12,827.92 ± 1542.19 Bq/kg of ⁴⁰K was and 94.76 ± 128.79 Bq/kg of ¹³⁴Cs were detected whereas neither ¹³⁷Cs nor ¹³¹I was detected. The present study examined inorganic fertilizers produced by a single manufacturer. There might be different results according to the country and area from which fertilizers are imported. Further studies about inorganic fertilizers in more detail are needed to create measures to reduce ⁴⁰K. Conclusion: Measures are needed to reduce radiation exposure to ⁴⁰K contained in fertilizers including phosphoric acid and potassium chloride fertilizers.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.418-425
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• 2003

Inorganic elemental content of bottom ash generated from municipal solid waste incinerator was determined by neutron activation analysis. Bottom ash samples were collected monthly from incinerator located in city D, strained out by the 5 mm sieve, dried by oven and pulverized by agate mortar. The samples were irradiated at NAA #1 irradiation hole in HANARO research reactor of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and the irradiated samples were measured by HPGe-gamma-ray spectrometer. From the activity of measured nuclides, 33 elements including As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Sb and Zn were determined applying activity creation formula and nuclear data. The quality control was conducted by simultaneous analysis with NIST standard reference materials.