Development of a gamma transmission method using a low-activity ²⁴¹Am source for determining the concentrations of...

In this study, we propose an approach for the determination of solution concentration using a low-energy photon beam of 59.54 keV emitted from a²⁴¹Am source. This study aims to develop a rapid, non-destructive method for measuring the concentration of various solutions, including acids, bases, and salts. The proposed approach is based on the principle of the attenuation of gamma photon beam intensity as it traverses matter. Following this approach, we first establish a calibration curve, which is accomplished using Monte Carlo simulation. Then, a prototype of the measurement system, consisting of a NaI(Tl) detector, an ²⁴¹Am radioactive source, and a solution container, was fabricated to measure the concentration of acid, base, and salt solutions. The experimental measurements are conducted by allowing the photon beam to pass through solutions and recorded by a NaI(Tl) detector. The results obtained indicate that the proposed approach can applied to measure the concentration of salt, acid, and base solutions which yields a relative deviation between the measured concentration and the reference concentration of mostly under 9 %. The observed concentration uncertainty for most of measurements is below 7 %, except for low-concentration solutions, where the uncertainty ranges from 9 % to 12 %. The findings from this study provide a different approach using low-energy gamma photon beams in determining the concentration of solution.