Activity determination of ⁵⁹Fe

Iron-59 was measured in three commercial and two custom-built liquid scintillation counters. The counting efficiencies were determined using CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing and the triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR) method, respectively. The efficiency computation for the TDCR method was realized by means of the MICELLE2 program, applying a stochastic model for the computation of electron emission spectra. The program was extended to make calculations of spectra originating from complex decay schemes possible. In addition, a new parameterization of electron stopping powers for 10 commercial liquid scintillation cocktails was included in the software. The activities determined with the two methods were in very good agreement; the relative standard uncertainty of the combined result was found to be 0.16%. It was used to calibrate a 4π ionization chamber at PTB for future calibrations of this isotope which is used for investigations of iron metabolism. A standardized solution was submitted to the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) to be measured in the ionization chambers of the International Reference System (SIR) for comparison purposes. The liquid scintillation samples were also measured in a new portable TDCR system with three channel photomultipliers. Although this system has a much lower counting efficiency, the activity was in satisfactory agreement with the conventional TDCR system. The usage of the portable TDCR system, thus, provides an important test of the free parameter model. - Highlights: • Iron-59 was measured by means of liquid scintillation counters. • CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing and the TDCR method were applied. • The models were extended for complex decay schemes. • The relative standard uncertainty was found to be 0.16%