Validation of an advanced analytical procedure applied to the measurement of environmental radioactivity

Highlights: • The comparison of the coincidence summing correction factors are calculated for two p-type HPGe detectors using MCNP-CP and ETNA codes. • The mass activities on the spiked water samples will be evaluated in the IAEA proficiency test. • The presented procedure is a simple, useful and high accuracy method applied to the environmental samples. - Abstract: In this work, an advanced analytical procedure was applied to calculate radioactivity in spiked water samples in a close geometry gamma spectroscopy. It included MCNP-CP code in order to calculate the coincidence summing correction factor (CSF). The CSF results were validated by a deterministic method using ETNA code for both p-type HPGe detectors. It showed that a good agreement for both codes. Finally, the validity of the developed procedure was confirmed by a proficiency test to calculate the activities of various radionuclides. The results of the radioactivity measurement with both detectors using the advanced analytical procedure were received the ''Accepted'' statuses following the proficiency test.