• LOW ENERGY ACCELERATOR, RAY AND APPLICATIONS •

### The gamma-spectrometry method of analyzing 226Ra in water based on ferric hydroxide-calcium carbonate carrier

QIN Huan, WANG Xinxin, TIAN Kun, XIA Bing

1. Shandong Province Nuclear and Radiation Safety Monitoring Center, Jinan 250117, China
• Received:2017-03-30 Revised:2017-05-07 Online:2017-09-10 Published:2017-09-06
• Supported by:

Supported by Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Foundation of China Environmental Protection Department (No.JC201613X)

Abstract:

Background: It is difficult to measure 226Ra in water accurately because of its low content. The existing three methods have the disadvantages such as complex sample processing, large measurement error and lower detection limit, and thus could not satisfy the measurement needs. Purpose: This study aims to build a new gamma-spectrometry method to analyze 226Ra in water simply and accurately with reasonable lower limit. Methods: Ferric hydroxide calcium carbonate was used as carrier for 226Ra in water. Results: Experimental results shows that the spiked sample recovery rate by this method is higher than 83.0%, the average recovery of each group is higher than 90.9%, the accuracy range is 2.05%-12.7%, and the precision range is 3.20%-5.38%. The relationship between the detection limit and the usage of the sample is calculated using the sourceless efficiency calibration software. The best sample sizes are 40-60 L, and at this point the lower detection limit is about 2.0 mBq·L-1. Conclusion: The results show that the method is accurate and reliable, which can be used to analyze and determine the content of 226Ra in water.

CLC Number:

• TL922