Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009

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No: 1008

Conference: Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009

Title: Radioisotopes Used in Analytical Chemical Instruments

Theme: Radiation and Environment

Author(s): Helena Janžekovič, Milko Križman

Contact : Helena Janžekovič

E-mail: helena.janzekovic@gov.si

Address: Uprava Republike Slovenije za jedrsko varnost
1001 Ljubljana

Country: Slovenia

Immediately after the discovery of radioactivity radioactive materials become widely used in different types of research and application. Nowadays in research laboratories radioactive materials are used in laboratories performing radiobiological or radiochemical research, research of materials as well as in calibration laboratories. Some typical physical methods, related to radioactivity of material under a study, also use radioactive materials. As for example, calibration of gamma spectrometers is preformed by using typical calibration sources e.g. Am-241, Cs-137, Co-60. A use of radioisotopes in a typical chemical laboratory is less known resulting in a lack of awareness required in order to apply all protection measures. In the last few years the Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration conducted an extensive campaign in order to improve the inventory of radioactive sources and establish regulatory control in chemical laboratories and chemical instruments used elsewhere.
Researchers in chemical research laboratories very often use uranium or thorium compounds in a form of unsealed sources as chemicals. In the past uranium acetate was widely used for the preparation samples to be investigated with an electron microscope. Other well known radioactive isotope present in chemical laboratories is Ni-63 in gas chromatography. In addition, in liquid scintillation techniques applied in chemical laboratories radioisotopes H-3, C-14, P-32, S-35 and Cr-51 are used commonly. It is less known that in most of the liquid scintillation counters radioisotopes are installed for quenching control, as for example: Ra-226, Cs-137, Ba-133 or Eu -152.
It is also less known that in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) techniques radioisotopes are usually built in the IMS instrument. This chemical analysis is widely used nowadays. The IMS instruments are dedicated to detect chemical warfare agents, explosives or narcotics. The detectors are known under commercial names e.g. M90, MGD1, ChemPro100 and Vapour Tracer. Their normal use does not pose any particular attention but a service of such instruments requires special procedures taking into account also radiation protection measures. Although instruments mentioned are made user friendly a proper warning sign for radiation is labelled rarely. This can easily results in overlooking the presence of radiation source.
The characteristics of apparatus using the chemical methods and containing radioisotopes are given in an overview which focuses on the characteristics of radioisotopes, their radiation and safety handling such instruments. Radiation safety requirements are discussed taking also into account the role of such detectors in contemporary security procedures.

No:	1008
Conference:	Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009
Title:	Radioisotopes Used in Analytical Chemical Instruments
Theme:	Radiation and Environment
Author(s):	Helena Janžekovič, Milko Križman
Contact :	Helena Janžekovič
E-mail:	helena.janzekovic@gov.si
Address:	Uprava Republike Slovenije za jedrsko varnost 1001 Ljubljana
Country:	Slovenia

Immediately after the discovery of radioactivity radioactive materials become widely used in different types of research and application. Nowadays in research laboratories radioactive materials are used in laboratories performing radiobiological or radiochemical research, research of materials as well as in calibration laboratories. Some typical physical methods, related to radioactivity of material under a study, also use radioactive materials. As for example, calibration of gamma spectrometers is preformed by using typical calibration sources e.g. Am-241, Cs-137, Co-60. A use of radioisotopes in a typical chemical laboratory is less known resulting in a lack of awareness required in order to apply all protection measures. In the last few years the Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration conducted an extensive campaign in order to improve the inventory of radioactive sources and establish regulatory control in chemical laboratories and chemical instruments used elsewhere. Researchers in chemical research laboratories very often use uranium or thorium compounds in a form of unsealed sources as chemicals. In the past uranium acetate was widely used for the preparation samples to be investigated with an electron microscope. Other well known radioactive isotope present in chemical laboratories is Ni-63 in gas chromatography. In addition, in liquid scintillation techniques applied in chemical laboratories radioisotopes H-3, C-14, P-32, S-35 and Cr-51 are used commonly. It is less known that in most of the liquid scintillation counters radioisotopes are installed for quenching control, as for example: Ra-226, Cs-137, Ba-133 or Eu -152. It is also less known that in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) techniques radioisotopes are usually built in the IMS instrument. This chemical analysis is widely used nowadays. The IMS instruments are dedicated to detect chemical warfare agents, explosives or narcotics. The detectors are known under commercial names e.g. M90, MGD1, ChemPro100 and Vapour Tracer. Their normal use does not pose any particular attention but a service of such instruments requires special procedures taking into account also radiation protection measures. Although instruments mentioned are made user friendly a proper warning sign for radiation is labelled rarely. This can easily results in overlooking the presence of radiation source. The characteristics of apparatus using the chemical methods and containing radioisotopes are given in an overview which focuses on the characteristics of radioisotopes, their radiation and safety handling such instruments. Radiation safety requirements are discussed taking also into account the role of such detectors in contemporary security procedures.