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Study of the matrix composition effect on gamma spectrometry analysis using Monte Carlo simulation: application for soil to crop transfer factor determination

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Published/Copyright: April 17, 2023
Radiochimica Acta
From the journal Radiochimica Acta Volume 111 Issue 7

Abstract

Self-absorption effect has a significant impact on gamma spectrometry measurement for the highly precise determination of the radionuclides activity. Among the main factors affecting the self-absorption effect especially at low gamma energies is the matrix composition of the sample. For this purpose, we studied the matrix composition effect on the self-absorption correction for plant and soil matrices using a Monte Carlo simulation model, composed of High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector and a cylindrical geometry source. The simulated configuration model was validated by comparison of simulated full energy peak efficiency (FEPE) values with the experimental ones using a standard radioactive solution, covering large interval gamma energies in the range of 59.54–1836.12 keV. The results show that the FEPE values of low gamma energies are affected by the matrix composition, where in the soil matrix the FEPEs decreased by 36% and only by 1% in the plant matrix. The Monte Carlo results were applied in order to accurately calculate the transfer factor of the environmental radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K from soils to several crops, mustard, artichoke and fennel through their specific activities.

Keywords: full energy peak efficiency; gamma spectrometry; Monte Carlo simulation; self-absorption factor corrections; transfer factor
Corresponding author: Maroua Bengroun, Laboratory of Dosing, Analysis and Characterization in High Resolution, Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences, Ferhat ABBAS, Setif-1, 19000 Setif, Algeria; and Nuclear Research Centre of Algiers, 02 Bd Frantz Fanon, BP 399, Algiers, Algeria, E-mail:

Acknowledgment

The authors sincerely acknowledge the members of Laboratory Soil, of DTN, CRNA for the precious help.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of the present article. All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. The authors have no financial or proprietary interests in any material discussed in this article.

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Received: 2022-09-04
Accepted: 2023-03-08
Published Online: 2023-04-17
Published in Print: 2023-07-26

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Original Papers
  3. Measurement of the isomeric yield ratios of 196m,gAu and 195m,gHg in the 197Au(p,x) reaction
  4. Application of Plantain leaves as a bio-adsorbent for biosorption of U(VI) ions from wastewater
  5. Effect of calcium on niobium solubility in alkaline solutions
  6. Fast and effective sorption of radioactive Sr(II) onto mesoporous silicate
  7. Utilization of high specific activity 99Mo for assessing the active manganese oxide as a potential material for 99Mo/99mTc generator
  8. Determination of essential and toxic elements in Algerian plant Matricaria chamomilla L.
  9. Study of the matrix composition effect on gamma spectrometry analysis using Monte Carlo simulation: application for soil to crop transfer factor determination
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https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2022-0089
Keywords for this article
full energy peak efficiency; gamma spectrometry; Monte Carlo simulation; self-absorption factor corrections; transfer factor

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Original Papers
  3. Measurement of the isomeric yield ratios of 196m,gAu and 195m,gHg in the 197Au(p,x) reaction
  4. Application of Plantain leaves as a bio-adsorbent for biosorption of U(VI) ions from wastewater
  5. Effect of calcium on niobium solubility in alkaline solutions
  6. Fast and effective sorption of radioactive Sr(II) onto mesoporous silicate
  7. Utilization of high specific activity 99Mo for assessing the active manganese oxide as a potential material for 99Mo/99mTc generator
  8. Determination of essential and toxic elements in Algerian plant Matricaria chamomilla L.
  9. Study of the matrix composition effect on gamma spectrometry analysis using Monte Carlo simulation: application for soil to crop transfer factor determination
  10. Irradiation effects on phenolic content in Bulgarian honey bee products and correlation to the antioxidant activity
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