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Evaluation of an Automated Assay System to Measure Soil Radionuclides by L X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Spectrometry¹

ABSTRACT

An automated radionuclide assay system was evaluated for performing soil radioassays using L x-ray and gamma-ray spectrometry. Wet chemistry assay procedures were shown to be considerably more time consuming than similar analyses of soils on this radionuclide assay system. The detection limits of ²⁴¹Am and Pu were determined, as well as the reproducibility of radionuclide assay results. The L x-ray spectrometric measurements were compared with radiochemical analysis on several tuff samples. The assay system's intrinsic germanium detector was found to respond linearly to varying low concentrations of ²⁴¹Am and Pu, both of which were easily detected in the presence of elevated concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs.

¹ Research funded under contract no. W-7405-Eng. 36 between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Los Alamos National Lab., Los Alamos, NM 87544.

² Soil scientist, Life Sciences Technician, and Radiation Instrumentation Specialist, respectively, Los Alamos National Lab., Los Alamos, NM, 87544.

Received for publication June 1, 1982. Accepted for publication January 14, 1983.