Study of particular problems appearing in NORM samples and recommendations for best practice gamma-ray spectrometry

Andreas Baumgartner; Michael Stietka; Franz Kabrt; Hannah Wiedner; Franz Josef Maringer

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2016.12.035

Study of particular problems appearing in NORM samples and recommendations for best practice gamma-ray spectrometry

Appl Radiat Isot. 2017 Aug:126:285-288. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2016.12.035. Epub 2016 Dec 28.

Authors

Andreas Baumgartner¹, Michael Stietka², Franz Kabrt³, Hannah Wiedner³, Franz Josef Maringer³

Affiliations

¹ University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Prueflabor fuer Umweltradioaktivitaet und Strahlenschutz, Low-Level Counting Laboratory Arsenal, Arsenal 214, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: a.baumgartner@boku.ac.at.
² University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Prueflabor fuer Umweltradioaktivitaet und Strahlenschutz, Low-Level Counting Laboratory Arsenal, Arsenal 214, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
³ University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Prueflabor fuer Umweltradioaktivitaet und Strahlenschutz, Low-Level Counting Laboratory Arsenal, Arsenal 214, A-1030 Vienna, Austria; BEV - Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying, Arltgasse 35, A-1160 Vienna, Austria.

PMID: 28043772
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2016.12.035

Abstract

In this paper spectral interference effects for selected gamma-emitting radionuclides of the natural decay series and ⁴⁰K in selected NORM samples are studied. Recommendations for the choice of γ-lines and the consideration of possible spectral interferences are provided. Special attention is given to the radon tightness of the sample containers. A simple and sensitive method for the estimation of the ²²²Rn leakage of sample containers is introduced. The applied polystyrene sample containers show ²²²Rn leakages lower than 1%.

Keywords: Gamma-ray spectrometry; NORM; Radon tightness; Spectral interference.