Development of solid radium-226 reference materials

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5484150· OSTI ID:5484150

Chessmore, R. B.; Engelder, P. R.; Sill, C. W.

Radium-226 reference materials having a matrix similar to soil or tailings samples are not available in sufficient quantity for use by remedial-action contractors to calibrate their laboratory gamma-ray spectrometers. Such reference materials are needed to provide uniform standardization among measurements made by remedial-action contractors. A task, therefore, was undertaken to prepare about 200 pounds each of three different concentrations of radium-226 reference materials by diluting tailings with high-purity silica. Target values for radium-226 content were 50, 15, and 5 pCi/g. The radium-226 content of the reference materials was measured by C.W. Sill of EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, using a high- resolution alpha spectrometry technique standardized with National Bureau of Standards (NBS) standard 4961. A summary of this technique is provided in Appendix A of this report. An independent measurement of the radium-226 content was conducted by Bendix Field Engineering Corporation (Bendix), Grand Junction, Colorado, using a high-resolution Ge(Li) detector, which was calibrated using the New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL) 100-A Series standards. The Ge(Li) detector has also been used to determine the radium-226 content in the calibration models at the Grand Junction facility; these models are used by remedial-action contractors for calibration of borehole logging gamma-ray probes. 8 references, 12 tables.

• Research Organization: Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (United States); EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC13-76GJ01664
• OSTI ID: 5484150
• Report Number(s): GJ/TMC-10(83); ON: DE84004375
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
CALIBRATION STANDARDS
RADIUM 226
ALPHA SPECTROSCOPY
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
MILL TAILINGS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
SOLID WASTES
SPECTROMETERS
SPECTROSCOPY
STANDARDS
TAILINGS
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
400103* - Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures- (-1987)
052001 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing