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Investigation of the limits of detection for specific radionuclides in soil from the European Spallation Source (ESS) using radiometric and mass spectrometric methods

Pédehontaa-Hiaa, Guillaume LU ; Frost, Robert LU ; Barkauskas, Vytenis LU ; Eriksson Stenström, Kristina LU ; Elfman, Mikael LU ; Bernhardsson, Christian LU orcid and Rääf, Christopher LU (2023)
Abstract
This study provides information about the concentration of Tungsten (W), Hafnium (Hf) and Tantal (Ta) in the ESS soil and recommendations on the most appropriate sample preparation and measurement technique to assess contamination by these elements. The current levels of W, Hf and Ta measured in this study are in agreement with the estimated values from previous geological surveys. ICP MS showed low limits of detection for W, Hf and Ta and is thus an appropriate technique for environmental monitoring. However, the three metals are difficult to extract from soil and require the use of specific sample preparation methods (based on hydrofluoric acid for example). The transfer of stable W, Hf and Ta from soil to plant is poorly known and only... (More)
This study provides information about the concentration of Tungsten (W), Hafnium (Hf) and Tantal (Ta) in the ESS soil and recommendations on the most appropriate sample preparation and measurement technique to assess contamination by these elements. The current levels of W, Hf and Ta measured in this study are in agreement with the estimated values from previous geological surveys. ICP MS showed low limits of detection for W, Hf and Ta and is thus an appropriate technique for environmental monitoring. However, the three metals are difficult to extract from soil and require the use of specific sample preparation methods (based on hydrofluoric acid for example). The transfer of stable W, Hf and Ta from soil to plant is poorly known and only a handful of publications can be found that are relevant to the plants grown around the ESS. The transfer of the radioisotopes of W, Hf and Ta in particular to animals (and man) is even less studied. However, the existing articles indicate a fast excretion of radio-W and radio-Ta while the excretion is slow for radio-Hf.

The Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) for gamma emitter released from the ESS facility will depend not only on the performances of the detection equipment but also on the composition of tungsten target at the time of the release. The determination of limits of detection of ESS related gamma emitters was performed using a strategy based on simulation of spectra. Semi-synthetic gamma spectra were obtained by combining real soil measurements with simulated data for mixtures of ESS radionuclides using the software Nucleonica. The simulation of 187W spectra was used as a proof of concept for the method. With this approach, it is possible to estimate limits of detection by gamma spectroscopy for a given target composition. The limits of detection of four relevant radionuclides were successfully determined for two different compositions of the ESS target and at three different activity concentrations in soil. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
keywords
European Spallation Source (ESS), trace element analysis, ICP-MS, gamma spectrometry, detection limits
pages
50 pages
publisher
Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten
report number
2023:12
ISSN
2000-0456
project
Development of measurement methods for specific radionuclides from ESS
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
645f8d95-194d-43bf-a419-415bc3ac8a02
date added to LUP
2024-01-12 15:42:12
date last changed
2024-01-15 07:48:41
@techreport{645f8d95-194d-43bf-a419-415bc3ac8a02,
  abstract     = {{This study provides information about the concentration of Tungsten (W), Hafnium (Hf) and Tantal (Ta) in the ESS soil and recommendations on the most appropriate sample preparation and measurement technique to assess contamination by these elements. The current levels of W, Hf and Ta measured in this study are in agreement with the estimated values from previous geological surveys. ICP MS showed low limits of detection for W, Hf and Ta and is thus an appropriate technique for environmental monitoring. However, the three metals are difficult to extract from soil and require the use of specific sample preparation methods (based on hydrofluoric acid for example). The transfer of stable W, Hf and Ta from soil to plant is poorly known and only a handful of publications can be found that are relevant to the plants grown around the ESS. The transfer of the radioisotopes of W, Hf and Ta in particular to animals (and man) is even less studied. However, the existing articles indicate a fast excretion of radio-W and radio-Ta while the excretion is slow for radio-Hf.<br/><br/>The Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) for gamma emitter released from the ESS facility will depend not only on the performances of the detection equipment but also on the composition of tungsten target at the time of the release. The determination of limits of detection of ESS related gamma emitters was performed using a strategy based on simulation of spectra. Semi-synthetic gamma spectra were obtained by combining real soil measurements with simulated data for mixtures of ESS radionuclides using the software Nucleonica. The simulation of 187W spectra was used as a proof of concept for the method. With this approach, it is possible to estimate limits of detection by gamma spectroscopy for a given target composition. The limits of detection of four relevant radionuclides were successfully determined for two different compositions of the ESS target and at three different activity concentrations in soil.}},
  author       = {{Pédehontaa-Hiaa, Guillaume and Frost, Robert and Barkauskas, Vytenis and Eriksson Stenström, Kristina and Elfman, Mikael and Bernhardsson, Christian and Rääf, Christopher}},
  institution  = {{Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten}},
  issn         = {{2000-0456}},
  keywords     = {{European Spallation Source (ESS); trace element analysis; ICP-MS; gamma spectrometry; detection limits}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2023:12}},
  title        = {{Investigation of the limits of detection for specific radionuclides in soil from the European Spallation Source (ESS) using radiometric and mass spectrometric methods}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/169188995/202312-investigation-of-the-limits-of-detection-for-specific-radionuclides-in-soil-from-the-european-spallation-source-ess-using-radiometric-and-mass-spectrometric-methods.pdf}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}