Gaseous detector calibration and efficiency filter evaluation for radiochemistry facility

Area of Science:

• Radiological Sciences
• Environmental Monitoring
• Nuclear Medicine Technology

Background:

• International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 103 and EURATOM Directive 2013/59 mandate strict limits on public exposure to radioactive emissions (below 10 $\mu $Sv/year).
• Accurate monitoring systems are vital for radionuclide production facilities to comply with these regulations.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiopharmaceutical production involves radioactive gases like Fluorine-18 ($^{18}$F) and Carbon-11 ($^{11}$C), necessitating effective emission control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a method for calibrating large-area proportional counters for monitoring $^{18}$F and $^{11}$C gas emissions.
• To accurately determine the calibration factor for measuring air activity concentration of these radionuclides.
• To evaluate the efficiency of filtration systems in reducing radioactive emissions from radionuclide production.

Main Methods:

• Calibration of large-area proportional counters using a specific methodology.
• Measurement of air activity concentration of $^{18}$F and $^{11}$C gases.
• Assessment of filtration efficiency using absolute and activated carbon filters.

Main Results:

• A reliable method for calibrating detectors used in PET radiopharmaceutical production was established.
• The calibration method allows for accurate determination of air activity concentration.
• Filtration systems demonstrated a high efficiency of 98% in reducing radioactive emissions.

Conclusions:

• Combining calibrated detection systems with efficient air filtration is essential for radionuclide production facilities.
• This integrated approach ensures compliance with regulatory limits for public exposure.
• Effective monitoring and filtration protect public health and the environment from radioactive emissions.