Direct determination of {sup 90}Sr and {sup 147}Pm in Chernobyl hot particles collected in Kiev using beta absorption method

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199712000-00009· OSTI ID:585230

Papp, Z; Bolyos, A; Dezso, Z; Daroczy, S ^[1]

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1. Kossuth Univ., Debrecen (Hungary)

59 hot particles were collected in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1987. All but one were prepared from a moss carpet of 360 cm{sup 2} area. Radionuclide composition of the hot particles was investigated by gamma-spectrometry and beta absorption method. Pure beta emitters {sup 90}Sr and {sup 147}Pm were determined in 25 hot particles measuring the beta absorption curves of the hot particles with an end-window Geiger-Mueller counter and decomposing the curves in order to obtain the contributions of {sup 90}Sr and {sup 147}Pm to the total beta counting rate. All but one of the hot particles were found to be the debris of the fuel. The activity ratio {sup 90}Sr:{sup 144}Ce was 0.078 which is half of the theoretical result. Although {sup 147}Pm is considered to be a refractory nuclide, it seems that significant part of {sup 147}Pm went to the homogeneous fraction of the general fallout. The surface density of hot particles (of higher than about 50 Bq activity) was about 1,600 m{sup -2} and that of the activities of the nuclides {sup 90}Sr, {sup 106}Ru, {sup 134}Cs, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 144}Ce and {sup 147}Pm as components of hot particles was 12.2, 54.3, 5.9, 9.7, 234 and 18.3 kBq m{sup -2} (activity values counted for 26 April 1986), respectively, in downtown Kiev city in 1987.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 585230
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 73; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CERIUM 144
CESIUM 134
CHERNOBYLSK-4 REACTOR
CONTAMINATION
FALLOUT
GAMMA SPECTRA
PROMETHIUM 147
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
SOILS
STRONTIUM 90
UKRAINE