Cherenkov counting technique

The isotope 40K can be analyzed in natural water samples with the Cherenkov counting technique.2 3 Because of the lack of a suitable radiotracer for K and the similarity between the chemistries of rubidium and potassium, 86Rb can be used as a tracer for K.4 Also, thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) has been used to determine 40K in environmental samples. The interference of mass 40 can be solved by double spiking with 43Ca/48Ca the procedure for the routine high-precision isotope analysis of the K-Ca system will then be free of Ca fractionations.5... 

K is transformed by emission to Ca. (89.05 %) and by electron capture to " °Ar (10.95 %) [24]. The measurement of activity can be analyzed in environmental samples, after drying and homogenizing, by gamma spectrometry with the use of energy spectrum of 1461 keV. In natural water samples, is measured using the Cherenkov counting technique [25, 26]. Thermal ionization mass spec-... 

This study emphasizes the measurement procedure of Sr activity in radioactive aqueous waste produced by the nuclear industry. Considering radioecological and radioprotective elements, there is a need for systematic measurements of Sr activity in rejected wastes. The classical methods for this determination are gas flow proportional counting, liquid scintillation counting or Cherenkov counting.These techniques require efficient concentration and purification steps before the measurement of radiostrontium itself. 

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