title: Evaluation of uncertainty components associated with alpha-particle spectrometric measurements of uranium isotopes in water.
abstract: Qualifications of uncertainties associated with the measurement of specific activity concentration of uranium radioisotope ((238)U) in water samples by alpha-particle spectrometry are presented. Possible sources of uncertainty are identified and quantified in the activity concentration measurements of (238)U isotope; the major source being the statistical counting uncertainty as expected. The combined relative standard uncertainty [Formula: see text] of the measurement was calculated as 1.4Bq kg(-1) (7.9%) for the investigated NPL sample. The accuracy and precision of recommended procedure were checked analysing six spiked water samples supplied from IAEA-proficiency test exercises. The results were evaluated in terms of relative bias, z-score, u-score, trueness and precision. These results show that the activity values and their uncertainties are in good agreement with recommended values.
authors.affiliation: Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, Sarayköy Nuclear Research and Training Center, 06983 Kazan, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: meryem.seferinoglu@taek.gov.tr.
authors.forename: Meryem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seferinoğlu
authors.affiliation: Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, Sarayköy Nuclear Research and Training Center, 06983 Kazan, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirican
authors.affiliation: Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, Sarayköy Nuclear Research and Training Center, 06983 Kazan, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pınar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Esra Erden
authors.affiliation: Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, Sarayköy Nuclear Research and Training Center, 06983 Kazan, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erçin
keywords: Alpha-particle spectrometry; Measurement uncertainty; Radiochemical separation; Uranium in water