Measuring <sup>222</sup>Rn in aquatic environment via Pulsed Ionization Chamber Radon Detector

Lijun Song; Wen Liu; Shibin Zhao; Chunqian Li; Jinjia Guo; Natasha Dimova; Bochao Xu

doi:10.1007/s13131-023-2183-9

Volume 42 Issue 8

Aug. 2023

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Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2023 > 42(8): 185-189

Lijun Song, Wen Liu, Shibin Zhao, Chunqian Li, Jinjia Guo, Natasha Dimova, Bochao Xu. Measuring 222Rn in aquatic environment via Pulsed Ionization Chamber Radon Detector[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2023, 42(8): 185-189. doi: 10.1007/s13131-023-2183-9

Citation:

Lijun Song, Wen Liu, Shibin Zhao, Chunqian Li, Jinjia Guo, Natasha Dimova, Bochao Xu. Measuring ²²²Rn in aquatic environment via Pulsed Ionization Chamber Radon Detector[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2023, 42(8): 185-189. doi: 10.1007/s13131-023-2183-9

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Measuring ²²²Rn in aquatic environment via Pulsed Ionization Chamber Radon Detector

doi: 10.1007/s13131-023-2183-9

Lijun Song^{1, 2, 3},
Wen Liu^{1, 2, 3},
Shibin Zhao^{1, 2, 3},
Chunqian Li^{4, 5},
Jinjia Guo⁴,
Natasha Dimova⁶,
Bochao Xu^{1, 2
,
,}

1.
Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System/Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology of Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
2.
Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
3.
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
4.
College of Information Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
5.
R & D Center for Marine Instruments and Apparatuses, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266200, China
6.
Department of Geological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487, USA

Funds: The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 42130410, 41876075 and U1906210; the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under contract No. 201962003.

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail: xubc@ouc.edu.cn
Received Date: 2022-06-22
Accepted Date: 2022-08-15

Available Online: 2023-03-15

Publish Date: 2023-08-31

Abstract

Abstract

Radon (Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive inert gas in nature, and ²²²Rn has been routinely used as a powerful tracer in various aquatic environmental research on timescales of hours to days, such as submarine groundwater discharge. Here we developed a new approach to measure ²²²Rn in discrete water samples with a wide range of ²²²Rn concentrations using a Pulsed Ionization Chamber (PIC) Radon Detector. The sensitivity of the new PIC system is evaluated at 6.06 counts per minute for 1 Bq/L when a 500 mL water sample volume is used. A robust logarithmic correlation between sample volumes, ranging from 250 mL to 5000 mL, and system sensitivity obtained in this study strongly suggests that this approach is suitable for measuring radon concentration levels in various natural waters. Compared to the currently available methods for measuring radon in grab samples, the PIC system is cheaper, easier to operate and does not require extra accessories (e.g., drying tubes etc.) to maintain stable measurements throughout the counting procedure.
- ²²²Rn,
- radon measurement,
- Pulsed Ionization Chamber Radon Detector,
- radon in discrete water samples,
- submarine groundwater discharge

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References(26)

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