Uranium Radioactivity Measurement for Low-Level Wastewater Based on Ultra-Low Level Liquid Scintillation Analyzer

In this paper, a method based on ultra-low level liquid scintillation analyzer for measuring uranium radioactivity in low-level radioactive wastewater is proposed. It can easily and quickly measure the radioactivity level of uranium in samples, and even distinguish the main isotopes of uranium. In low-level wastewater samples, if the uranium isotope has the same or similar composition and ratio to the natural uranium isotope, Comparing to the results in units of mass concentration given by laser-fluoremetry method, the liquid scintillation method can give the results in units of activity concentration, and these two results with different units can interconvert to each other. However, interconversion of results on above two measurement methods cannot be applied in low-level wastewater after uranium enrichment, because the proportion of isotopes with high specific activity in above wastewater, such as 234U and 235U, is significantly higher than that without enrichment. The measurement results in units of mass concentration will underestimate the uranium radioactivity level of the sample. The liquid scintillation method directly gives the results in units of radioactivity activity concentration, and it is more convenient to compare with relevant national standards to determine whether the emission standards are met. The lowest limit of detection of this method is 0.014 Bq L−1 within 600 min.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ СООТНЕСЕНИЯ ДАТ ПАМЯТНИКОВ КУЛЬТУР БРОНЗОВОГО ВЕКА МОНГОЛИИ, ПОЛУЧЕННЫХ В РЕЗУЛЬТАТЕ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ РАЗЛИЧНЫХ МЕТОДИК РАДИОУГЛЕРОДНОГО ДАТИРОВАНИЯ В 2000-Х – 2010-Х ГОДАХ

From 2001 to 2019, at the Radiocarbon Laboratory of the IIMK RAS, 14C dating was carried out using the liquid- scintillation method of samples from the excavations of the Russian-Mongolian Archaeological Expedition led by A.A. Kovalev and D. Erdenebaatar, including those belonging to the firstly discovered cultures of the Bronze Age and complexes with deer stones. The materials obtained made it possible to construct a columnar sequence of Western Mongolian cultures, to clarify the period of construction of a different types of burial and ritual structures. The dates obtained by AMS-method in recent years for the same burials make the column older in parts and as a whole; the discrepancy with the previously obtained results is most likely due to the impossibility of complete purification of bulk samples for LSC analysis from modern organic contaminants.

Determination of Bio Content in Polymers used in the Packaging of food Products

ABSTRACTThe ENEA Radiocarbon Laboratory (Bologna, Italy) has been operating since 1985; it is the oldest among such laboratories operating in Italy and has been active for about 30 years in the field of dating of different types of samples with the radiocarbon (14C) liquid scintillation method. This study shows the detailed procedure for radiocarbon analysis on bioplastic materials by means of the synthesis of benzene, which includes CO2 production and purification, synthesis of acetylene, and synthesis and collection of benzene. The changes made to the original design of the synthesis procedures and the operational parameters adopted to optimize the combustion of the plastic materials are described. The measurement of 14C activity was performed using the liquid scintillation counting technique by a QuantulusTM 1220 low-background counter. The δ13C content was compared with the percentage of 14C concentration for the characterization of the bio content in plastic used in the food packaging.

On the possibility of using «Grand-Potok» unit with MAÉS analyzer for analysis of solutions and water aerosols

Modernization of «Grand-Potok» atomic emission complex with MAÉS analyzer («VMK-Optoélektronika», Novosibirsk, Russia) first designed for analysis of powder samples is considered in view of the possibility of analysis of solutions and aqueous aerosols avoiding changes in the sample injection. It is shown that upgraded input system equipped with a nebulizer provides determination of platinum and gold in aqueous solutions with detection limits 1 – 5 ppm. Analysis of water aerosols with silver nanoparticles by scintillation method revealed the possibility of detecting separate silver nanoparticles about 200 nm and more. Thus we have demonstrated that modernization of the complex provides the possibility for analysis of solutions and aerosols obtained upon electro-spark and laser ablation of various materials, as well as for microanalysis of the objects.

Using stellar scintillation for studies of turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere

Stellar scintillation observed through the Earth's atmosphere is the result of interaction of light waves and the turbulent atmosphere. This review is dedicated to using stellar scintillation measurements for studies of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. We present an overview of ground-based, air-borne and satellite stellar scintillation measurements, discuss the approaches to data analyses and give an overview of the main geophysical results. We also discuss the benefits of the scintillation method in studies of the structure of air density irregularities and its limitations.