For the environmental analysis of radionuclides in water samples, off-line liquid scintillation counting (LSC), a mature radioactivity quantification technique, is often used for low-level measurements. However, the analysis is both time consuming and costly in terms of labour, consumables expenditure and waste production. In this work, we describe the development of a novel, portable on-line water monitoring system that undertakes automated sampling and measurement and can operate for long periods (weeks) unaided. The prototype system has been evaluated by the US EPA and has proven itself in terms of long-term reliability, low background levels (<5 cpm) and a detection limit in the nCi/L range, which is below the EPA and EU-imposed limits for tritium concentration. We also describe the research undertaken as a result of the evaluation, which has sought to optimise the instrument for a range of radionuclide analyses, to permit their discrimination and improve the sensitivity still further.

Development of a sensitive on-line monitoring system for the analysis of radionuclides in water samples

245th National Meeting (2013)

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