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Measurement of 224Ra in water via pulsed ionization chamber (PIC) radon detector
Haowei Xu1, Chunqian Li2, Pengxia Liu3
1Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
Abstract:
224Ra (t1/2 = 3.6 d) has been widely used as a tracer in environmental water research. Here, we present a new method for measuring 224Ra in natural waters using a pulsed ionization chamber (PIC)-based radon detector. This method is based on the measurement of the 224Ra daughter isotope 220Rn (thoron) after reaching secular equilibrium within 7 min. Radium isotopes are concentrated on ''Mn-fibers'' before measurement of 220Rn, which can be distinguished from 222Rn by the difference in their half-lives. The measurement efficiency of the method is 0.20 ± 0.01 cps/Bq at an optimum airflow rate of 1.0 L/min and a water/Mn-fiber weight ratio of 1.0. Results from natural water samples obtained by this method agree well with analysis via RaDeCC, an established technique for 224Ra assessments. Since the PIC system is lighter compared to RaDeCC, easier to operate, and does not require the usage of helium carrier gas and desiccant, this method is recommended for in-situ 224Ra measurement in long-term fieldwork with limited logistical support.
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