Preparation and emanation properties of an ion-exchanged solid thoron source.

Area of Science:

• Radiochemistry
• Environmental Science
• Nuclear Instrumentation

Background:

• Accurate calibration of thoron ((220)Rn) measurement instruments is crucial for environmental monitoring and radiation safety.
• Existing solid sources for thoron ((220)Rn) calibration often lack a constant emanation rate, posing challenges for reliable measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel solid source material for stable thoron ((220)Rn) emanation.
• To investigate the feasibility of using ion-exchanged resin as a reliable standard source for thoron ((220)Rn) calibration.

Main Methods:

• Thorium (Th(4+)) ions from thorium nitrate were exchanged onto sodium benzenesulphonate resin beads (∼0.5 mm diameter) using an ion-exchange technique.
• The thoron ((220)Rn) emanation rates from the prepared ion-exchanged resin were tested under controlled environmental conditions (air humidity and temperature).

Main Results:

• The ion-exchange method successfully immobilized Th(4+) onto the resin surface.
• The thoron ((220)Rn) emanation rates from the resin were observed to be nearly constant when air humidity and temperature were controlled.
• The prepared resin sources demonstrated potential for customizable sizes and activities.

Conclusions:

• Ion-exchanged sodium benzenesulphonate resin is a promising material for creating stable thoron ((220)Rn) solid sources.
• This new source material offers a reliable and adaptable solution for the calibration of thoron ((220)Rn) measurement devices.