A proposed multi-detector method for prompt 90Sr detection in post-accident environmental matrices.
Strontium-90 is of relevant biological importance among fission products released during a fission reactor accident. Rapid information on its concentration in environmental matrices is extremely valuable, yet this implies chemical separations and handling with a shift in daughter equilibrium and therefore the need to wait a sufficient time for the equilibrium to be reestablished. The work concerns a feasibility study of a multi-detector system for a prompt evaluation of the 90Sr activity or, at least, a prompt determination of its order of magnitude in the presence of other pure beta and beta-gamma emitters; their interferences are examined on the basis of the Chernobyl releases and their decay properties. The technique is based on a plastic scintillator beta detector and a guard ring of BGO counters which can be logically connected in coincidence and anticoincidence. The evaluations show that a few hours are sufficient to determine a specific activity comparable with the Maximum Permissible Concentration in air by sampling 10 m3.
Brini
D
D
Dipartimento Fisica, Università di Bologna, Italy.
Maltoni Giacomelli
G
G
Morigi
M P
MP
Prodi
V
V
Volta
C
C
Bernardi
T
T
Testoni
G V
GV
D000059:Accidents; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes