Impurities in radionuclide materials

The manual sums up the experiences of the spectroscopy laboratory of the UVVVR, gained with the determination of impurities in materials used for the preparation of standards. The main equipment for the determination of impurities was a spectrometer with a Ge(Li) semiconductor detector of 80 cm3 in sensitive volume. Data were obtained either by own compilation of data published in the literature or from Tables of radionuclides. Great attention was focused on the determination of half-life values and the yields of photons of those nuclides which are usually used as spectrometric standards. The tables contain: 1) half-life, 2) method of radionuclide production, 3) usually the main components of alpha or beta radiation or the electron capture intensity, depending on the decay type, 4) emitted photons, their energies and intensities; for transitions used as standards the intensities were determined as the average value of published data, 5) impurities found; impurities detected by UVVVR spectroscopic laboratory; in case of the regular occurrence of impurities; their typical or average amounts are stated; the detection limit is given for each radionuclide, 5a) possible impurities; found in other laboratories or are believed logical, 6) conditions and methods of measurements; suitable detector type, interesting energy region and other details applicable to a specific radionuclide. (B.S.)