RT Journal Article
T1 A general methodology to determine natural radionuclides by well-type HPGe detectors
A1 Barba Lobo, Alejandro
A1 Gutiérrez de San Miguel Herrera, Enrique
A1 Lozano Bermejo, Rafael Luis
A1 Bolívar Raya, Juan Pedro
AB This work aims to determine natural radionuclides (210Pb, 228,226Ra, 234,228Th and 40K) in NORM samples by well-type HPGe detectors because they are of vital importance in studies on environmental samples. For this, a novel methodology has been developed, based on obtaining a general function for the full-energy peak efficiency (FEPE) versus the sample apparent density and composition, keeping the sample height constant. To obtain the general FEPE function, a calibration in efficiency has been accomplished using certified standards provided by IAEA (RGU-1 and RGTh-1), and KCl. Besides, different self-absorption correction functions were compared for cylindrical geometry, where chemical compositions need to be known. Then, a study on using an anti-Compton system was done, getting a lower detection limit and allowing to propose gamma spectrometry as an alternative technique to alpha-particle spectrometry. Finally, the followed methodology to calculate the FEPE was subjected to internal and external validations, checking its validity range.
PB Elsevier
SN 0263-2241
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10272/20147
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10272/20147
LA eng
NO Barba-Lobo, A., San Miguel, E. G., Lozano, R. L., & Bolívar, J. P. (2021). A general methodology to determine natural radionuclides by well-type HPGe detectors. Measurement, 181, 109561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2021.109561
NO Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUAThis research was partially funded by a project of the Regional Government of Andalusia “Basic processes regulating the fractionations and enrichments of natural radionuclides under acid mine drainage conditions” (Ref.: UHU-1255876), and a project of the Projects for Novel Principal Investigators “Quantitative study of the variables involved in the radon exhalation rate for granular solids; application to rafts of granular solid phosphogypsum” (Ref.: UHUPJ-00005-632). A.B.L. acknowledges support from funds provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities’ Research Agency and co-financing provided by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Spanish National Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan under Contract No. PEJ2018-002676-A.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 30 may 2026