Gamma Ray Spectrometry for Analysis of Radio Elements with Applications in Uranium Estimation

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume II, Issue VII, September 2017 | ISSN 2454-6194

Gamma Ray Spectrometry for Analysis of Radio Elements with Applications in Uranium Estimation

Khushboo Khandal

  M.Tech (Nuclear Science & Technology), Mody University, Rajasthan, India

Abstract— Radiometric techniques have acquired immense importance among all the analytical analysis techniques. They have the edge over other analytical techniques due to the advantages of being adequately accurate, rapid and cost effective with minimum need on sample preparation. Among the various radiometric techniques, Gamma ray spectrometry is one of the most widely applied techniques for identification and quantitative estimation of the radio elements in a variety of matrices. The wide range of applications of gamma ray spectrometry in the field of Radiation monitoring in nuclear facilities, National Security, Geochemical investigation, Health physics, Nuclear medicine, Material research and mineral exploration have made the technique globally popular. The underlying principle is that the energy of gamma photons emitted from radio isotopes is characteristic of individual isotopes. This requires appropriate radiation detector, pulse processing, sorting of pulses with amplitude, display of pulse distribution and interpretation, all included in a single set-up called as gamma ray spectrometer. The technique began with the use of single channel analyzers for sorting pulses and has evolved with the advancement in electronics and detector technology. Today portable gamma ray spectrometers which are very handy to carry for field use with powerful software to directly display the spectrum and also to analyze radio isotopes are quite common. The technique was applied for estimation of Uranium, Thorium and Potassium concentration in the soil and rock samples collected from the area around Mody University, Lakshmangarh.

I. INTRODUCTION

Naturally occurring radioactive elements are K⁴⁰, U²³⁸ and Th²³². Availability of uranium is more than many other metals in the soil. Uranium is a radioactive element, only its radioactivity helps in its discovery. Uranium is abundant in many types of rocks and it is low in water and soil. Uranium is used in the production of nuclear power in the nuclear reactor and in the defense sector, and radiation is used in agriculture, medicine and various industries. Due to being radioactive, alpha (α), beta (β) and γ (γ) radiations are emitted from it. The presence of these rays is detected by its measurement, which is used to measure different types of techniques.

Read More