Nuclear Chemistry

Biography

Biography: Abdulaziz Aba

Abstract

The present paper describes the experience of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in relation to implementing the validation procedures of nuclear analytical test methods applied in the Radioactivity Measurements Laboratory (RML). The test methods include both destructive and non-destructive analysis of environmental samples using alpha and gamma spectrometry. These are: (a) gamma emitters in the marine sediment using ultra low gamma spectrometry, (b) determination of ²¹⁰Pb, ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in dust fallout samples using well type gamma spectrometry, (c) determination of ¹³⁷Cs concentration in high volume seawater samples by AMP co-precipitation method and ultra low background gamma spectrometry, (d) determination of ²²⁶Ra in drinking water by MnO2 co-precipitation method and well type gamma spectrometry, (e) uranium and plutonium determination in marine sediment by radiochemistry and alpha spectrometry. The internal method validation parameters (Minimum Detection Limit, accuracy, relative error and marginal recovery of the radiochemistry test methods were estimated) were estimated based on EUROCHM guide criteria. In addition, the uncertainty budget of the test’s method and the uncertainty components were calculated. However, an external assessment of the test’s performance has been achieved through participating in inter-comparison and proficiency testing exercises (IAEA, NPL, MAPEP, ERA). It was found that the implemented validation methodology at KISR’s RML keeps the laboratory under control and improve its reputability, where it can be implemented in another laboratory.