Scintillation material for determination of radionuclides in water

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the development and use in radiation monitoring of new sorption materials, together with methods of their application for selective determination of radionuclide 90Sr in water. The material comprises a matrix, which is transacted by pores. A selective sorbent is fixed onto the surface of these pores. The material structure allows the passage of the liquid to be analyzed through the pores. The element to be determined is accumulated in the scintillator volume. Preconcentration of 90Sr inside a scintillation composite material, rather than through sample manipulation (evaporation, etc.), will greatly simplify the analytical process. 4π-Geometry is ensured for radiation detection, and simultaneously the radiochemical problem of radionuclide concentration is solved. Crystals of p-terphenyl doped with diphenylbutadiene were used as the matrix, and synthetic hydroxylapatite as selective complex-forming agent. The proposed method based on using porous scintillators allows detecting concentrations of 90Sr in the potable water, which are less than the maximum acceptable concentration (i.e. 2 Bq/l).