title: Applying a low energy HPGe detector gamma ray spectrometric technique for the evaluation of Pu/Am ratio in biological samples.
abstract: The estimation of Pu/(241)Am ratio in the biological samples is an important input for the assessment of internal dose received by the workers. The radiochemical separation of Pu isotopes and (241)Am in a sample followed by alpha spectrometry is a widely used technique for the determination of Pu/(241)Am ratio. However, this method is time consuming and many times quick estimation is required. In this work, Pu/(241)Am ratio in the biological sample was estimated with HPGe detector based measurements using gamma/X-rays emitted by these radionuclides. These results were compared with those obtained from alpha spectroscopy of sample after radiochemical analysis and found to be in good agreement.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India. Electronic address: issingh@barc.gov.in.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
authors.forename: Lokpati
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Nadar
authors.affiliation: Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Pradeepkumar
mesh_terms: D000576:Americium / Q000032:analysis*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005857:Germanium / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D005857:Germanium; D011005:Plutonium; D000576:Americium
keywords: Americium; Biological sample; Gamma ray spectroscopy; HPGe detector; Plutonium; Pu/Am ratio; α-Spectroscopy