Radiochemistry
The IER radioanalytical laboratories perform low and medium level radioactivity measurements and tritium analysis.
Low Level Radiochemistry Laboratory
The Low Level Radiochemistry laboratory offers low level radioactivity measurement capabilities. Various types of environmental samples are able to be analysed for a wide range of radionuclides. The facility comprises a low level radiochemistry laboratory for chemical separation of radionuclides and a low level instrument laboratory equipped with alpha and gamma spectrometers and has access to gas proportional and liquid scintillation counting instrumentation.
Alpha Spectrometry - The facility has developed sensitive methods for separating and measuring low activity levels of radionuclides such as polonium-210, radium-226, plutonium-239, 240 as well as uranium and thorium radioisotopes by alpha spectrometry. The chemical separation methods typically involve a combination of dissolution, ion exchange, preferential precipitation, filtering, autodeposition and / or electrodeposition. Alpha particle emissions are measured from the sample sources in one of the 40 alpha spectrometers available in the instrument laboratory.
Gamma Spectrometry - The facility is equipped with two Compton Suppression Gamma-ray Spectrometers. Each system comprises of an active NaI(Tl) suppression annulus, a NaI(Tl) plug detector and a reverse electrode germanium (REGe) detector all housed within an inert lead shield. These systems are capable of measuring gamma emitting radionuclides at low levels. Common radionuclides measured include: beryllium-7, caesium-137, potassium-40, lead-210, radium-226, radium-228 and thorium-228. In addition, two ultra-low background HPGe gamma spectrometers are also available in the laboratory.
Geochronology Capabilities - The low level radiochemistry team has developed expertise in lead-210/caesium-137 and uranium/thorium dating methods. The team has extensive experience in the collection and analysis of sediments, floodplain deposits and soils for lead-210/caesium-137 dating as well as the radiochemical separation and counting required for uranium/thorium dating.
Contacts: Jennifer Harrison, Atun Zawadzki
Medium Level Radiochemistry Laboratory
The Medium Level Radiochemistry laboratory provides measurement of gamma emitting radionuclides by gamma-ray spectrometry in various types and geometries of samples. The laboratory is equipped with 12 HPGe Gamma spectrometers. The most commonly used detectors in the laboratory are:
- P-type HPGe coaxial detectors for its high resolution and useful energy range of 40 keV to 10 MeV.
- N-type HPGe coaxial detectors with improved low energy response and energy range of 5 keV to 10 MeV.
- HP-Ge well detectors are used for small samples to provide the ultimate in absolute efficiency to cover energy range 10 keV to 10 MeV.
The facility provides ANSTO projects and commercial clients in the determination of natural radioactivity in environmental samples such as soil, sand, coal, vegetation and water, as well as fission product such as caesium-137, iodine-131 and sodium-24.
Contact: Lida Mokhber-Shahin
Tritium Laboratory
We perform Low level and ultra low level tritium determination; this supports studies into surface and ground water dynamics, environmental monitoring and health screening. The laboratory is equipped with large and small volume distillation apparatus, 32 electrolysis units and 3 liquid scintillation counters (LSC).
Contact: Barbara Neklapilova