Liquid Scintillation Counting. Recent Development

484 Pages·1974·7.1 MB·English

by  Philip Stanley (Eds.)

LIQUID
SCINTILLATION
COUNTING
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
EDITED BY
Philip E. Stanley
Waite Agricultural Research Institute
Department of Agricultural Biochemistry
University of Adelaide
Glen Osmond, South Australia
Bruce A. Scoggins
Howard Florey Institute
of Experimental Physiology and Medicine
University of Melbourne
Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Academic Press, Inc. New York and London 1974
A Subsidiary of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers
COPYRIGHT © 1974, BY ACADEMIC PRESS, INC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED OR
TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC
OR MECHANICAL, INCLUDING PHOTOCOPY, RECORDING, OR ANY
INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, WITHOUT
PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER.
ACADEMIC PRESS, INC.
Ill Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10003
United Kingdom Edition published by
ACADEMIC PRESS, INC. (LONDON) LTD.
24/28 Oval Road, London NW1
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 73-7444
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Preface
The International Symposium on Liquid Scintillation Counting was held
from 20th - 22nd August, 1973 at the Wentworth Hotel, Sydney, Australia.
One hundred delegates attended the Symposium and discussed the current
status of many recent developments in liquid scintillation spectrometry. The
decision to hold a Symposium of this type in Australia was based on what
was considered a need for a forum to discuss both the theoretical and applied
aspects of liquid scintillation counting. In Australia, the technique of liquid
scintillation spectrometry has had an important role in the majority of
universities, laboratories and institutes involved in nuclear physics, biomédi-
cal science, geophysics, and agriculture. However, geographical isolation and
the fact that scientists utilizing the same basic principles and equipment
work in many different disciplines means that there is seldom an opportunity
to exchange ideas. It was hoped that by inviting scientists who are research
leaders in the varied and important aspects of liquid scintillation spectrome-
try overseas and within Australia, a suitable interchange of information could
be achieved. In this regard our hopes were truly fulfilled.
We were pleased that Dr. J. L. Symonds, Acting Director of the Australian
Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment, could be present to
open the Symposium. It was a special pleasure and privilege to have Dr. John
Birks present at the Symposium on the occasion of his 25th Jubilee in the
Realm of the Scintillation Process, and to present a plenary lecture covering
his endeavors in the field. A different aspect of John Birk's ingenuity is seen
in his closing remarks which so skillfully analyzed the "state of the art."
The other plenary lecturers, Dr. Yutaka Kobayashi, Dr. Harley Ross, and
Professor Eric Schräm, were to provide expertise and a solid basis for discus-
sion in three important areas of scintillation counting. Our colleague, Dr.
John Coghlan, took the unenviable responsibility of organizing and chairing
the Workshop Session. A panel consisting of Drs. Bransome, Kobayashi,
Laney, Ross, and Schräm ably discussed a number of contentious issues
which arose during the Symposium. An edited synopsis of the Workshop
Session is included in this volume. Also included in this book is the paper
ix
PREFACE
of Dr. Laumas (India) who regrettably was unable to attend the meeting
because of illness. To our plenary lecturers, workshop participants, session
chairman and to those contributing to the published proceedings, we extend
our grateful thanks for making the Symposium a success.
We gratefully acknowledge the active participation of Mr. Peter Annand,
Marketing Director of Searle Nucleonics, a Division of Searle Australia Pty.
Ltd., who with us conceived the idea of holding the Symposium in Australia.
As a member of the organizing committee his encouragement and moral
support during the Symposium were of great value. Also, we wish to thank
Searle Nucleonics for their generous financial support which enabled us to
carry through a long gestation period and then to give birth to the actual
meeting. Convention Organizers Pty. Ltd. handled most professionally the
logistical aspects of the Symposium for us. Of their staff, we are greatly
indebted to Mrs. Karen Forbes who carried out seemingly impossible tasks
with efficiency and willingness. We wish to thank Miss Jan Peavy of the
Waite Agricultural Research Institute for valuable secretarial assistance and
especially for her preparation of the abstracts. The assistance of the secretar-
ial staff at the Howard Florey Institute is also acknowledged and also that of
the many other people who in various ways contributed to the Symposium.
Finally, we wish to record our sincere appreciation to Academic Press for
their assistance and advice in preparing this volume for publication.
Philip E. Stanley
Bruce A. Scoggins
x
List of Contributors
Adu, J. K., Department of Agricultural Biochemistry and Soil Science, Waite
Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond,
South Australia 5064
Apelgot, S., Fondation Curie-Institut du Radium 11, Rue P. et M. Curie et
26, Rue d'Ulm. 75231, Paris
Baucom, Terry L., Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia,
Athens, Georgia 30602
Birks, J. B., The Schuster Laboratory, University of Manchester, U.K.
Bransome, E. D. Jr., Division of Metabolic and Endocrine Disease, Medical
College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
Butkus, Aldona, Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and
Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Australia
Calf, G. E., Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Lucas Heights, N.S.W.
2232
Carter, T. P., Department of Experimental Pathology, University of
Birmingham Medical School, Birmingham B15 2TJ. England
Chemama, R., Fondation Curie-Institut du Radium 11, Rue P. et M. Curie
et 26, Rue d'Ulm. 75231, Paris
Church, V. E., Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establish-
ment, Lucas Heights, N.S.W.
Coghlan, John P., Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and
Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Australia
Dodeja, Nancy, Endocrine-Metabolic Unit, Department of Medicine, Peter
Bent Brigham Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
xi
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Downes, A. M., C.S.I.R.O., Division of Animal Physiology, Ian Clunies Ross
Research Laboratory, Prospect, N.S.W., Australia
Ediss, C, Division of Bionucleonics and Radiopharmacy, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Everett, L. J., Research Manager, Packard Instrument Company, Inc., 2200
Warrenville Road, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
Faini, George, J., Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia,
Athens, Georgia 30602
Fardy, John J., Chemical Technological Division, Australian Atomic Energy
Commission, Private Mail Bag, Sutherland, N.S.W. 2232, Australia
Fraser, I., The University of Sydney, Department of Physical Chemistry,
Sydney, Australia
Frilley, M., Fondation Curie-Institut du Radium 11, Rue P. et M. Curie et 26,
Rue d'Ulm. 75231, Paris
Gezing, Michael, Amersham/Searle Corp., Arlington Heights, Illinois
Gillespie, R., The University of Sydney, Department of Physical Chemistry,
Sydney, Australia
Gresham, P. A., Department of Experimental Pathology, University of
Birmingham Medical School, Birmingham B15 2TJ, England
Hartley, P. E., Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Research Establish-
ment, Lucas Heights, N.S.W. 2232
Jackson, N., C.S.I.R.O. Division of Animal Genetics, Epping, N.S.W.
Australia
Kaartinen, N., Consultant, Packard Instrument Pty, Ltd., 2-4 Vale Street,
St. Kilda, Victoria, 3182 Australia
Kisieleski, Walter, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439
Kobayashi, Yutaka, The Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology,
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 01545
Kreveld, P., District Manager, Packard Instrument Pty, Ltd., 2-4 Vale Street,
St. Kilda, Victoria, 3182 Australia
Laney, Barton H., Searle Analytic Inc., Des Plaines, Illinois
xii
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Laumas, K. R., Department of Reproductive Biology, All-India Institute of
Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110016, India
Lee, John, Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia, Athens,
Georgia 30602
Lowenthal, G. C, Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Estab-
lishment, Lucas Heights, N.S.W. 2232
Malcolm, Philip J., Biometry Section, Waite Agricultural Research Institute,
The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia
Maudsley, David V., The Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology,
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 01545
Maxwell, C. A., C.S.I.R.O., Division of Animal Physiology, Ian Clunies Ross
Research Laboratory, Prospect, N.S.W., Australia
Murphy, Charles L., Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia,
Athens, Georgia 30602
Neary, Michael P., Geochronology Laboratory, The University of Georgia,
Athens, Georgia 30602
Noakes, John E., Geochronology Laboratory, The University of Georgia,
Athens, Georgia 30602
Noujaim, A. A., Division of Bionucleonics and Radiopharmacy, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Oades, J. M., Department of Agricultural Biochemistry and Soil Science,
Waite Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide,
Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064
Painter, Kent, Amersham/Searle Corporation, Arlington Heights, Illinois*
Polach, Harry A., The Australian National University, Radiocarbon Dating
Laboratory, Canberra, Australia
Rahman, S. A., Department of Reproductive Biology, All-India Institute of
Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110016, India
* Present address: Micromedic Diagnostics, Inc.
P.O. Box 464
Fort Collins, Colorado
xiii
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Rasmussen, G. T., Analytic Chemistry Division, Oak Ridge National
Laboratory Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
Ross, H. H., Analytic Chemistry Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Schräm, Eric, University of Brussels, Belgium
Scoggins, Bruce A., Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology
and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Australia
Sharpe, S. E. Ill, Division of Metabolic and Endocrine Disease, Medical
College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
Sharry, L. F., C.S.I.R.O., Division of Animal Physiology, Ian Clunies Ross
Research Laboratory, Prospect, N.S.W., Australia
Spaulding, James D., Geochronology Laboratory, The University of Georgia,
Athens, Georgia 30602
Stanley, Philip E., Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, Waite
Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond,
South Australia*
Temple, R. B., The University of Sydney, Department of Physical Chemistry,
Sydney, Australia
ten Haaf, F. E. L., Nuclear Applications Laboratory, N. V. Philips'
Gloeilampenfabrieken Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Underwood, Richard H., Endocrine-Metabolic Unit, Department of
Medicine, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston,
Massachusetts
Wiebe, L. I., Division of Bionucleonics and Radiopharmacy, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
* Present address: Department of Clinical Pharmacology
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Woodville, South Australia 5011
xiv
TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCINTILLATION PROCESS
IN ORGANIC MOLECULAR SYSTEMS
J. B. Birks
The Schuster Laboratory, University of Manchester, U.K.
Introduction» ^y interest in organic scintillators began
just 25 years ago, and I have been interested in them ever
since. Silver jubilees are rare occasions« I propose to
celebrate this particular anniversary by departing from
the usual pattern of review papers and restricting this
talk to an account of my own personal voyage of discovery«
There have been many other contributors to the field, and
accounts of their work are to be found in my books (l-5l
and other review articles C6-23] •
The story opens in 194-8 in the Department of Natural
Philosophy at the University of Glasgow where I was com-
pleting my Ph.D. studies on the microwave properties of
ferromagnetic materials. All my colleagues were engaged
in research related to nuclear physics, and Professor
P. I. Dee suggested that I should seek a suitable project
in this area and join the "team". In one of the labor-
atories I found an unusual instrument consisting of a
large naphthalene crystal attached to a photoraultiplier.
Its designer, G. M. Lewis, explained that this was an
organic scintillation counter of the type discovered the
previous year by H. Kallmann. "Ionizing radiations
impinge on the scintillator and produce light flashes or
scintillations", he explained. "Why?", I asked. "We
don't know", he replied. The next day I informed
Professor Dee of my new project, the study of the scint-
illation process in organic molecular systems. 25 years
later I am still working on it. It was a much tougher
assignment than I realised, but en route there has been a
lot of interesting physics. We've found answers to many
of the original questions, and in turn we've uncovered
many new questions that we didn't know existed.
Organic crystals. Kallmann's first organic scintillator
Ï194-7) was a naphthalene crystal, grown from moth-balls
1
J. B. BIRKS
bought in a chemist's shop in war-ravaged Berlin. In
194.8 P. R. Bell reported that crystalline anthracene had a
scintillation yield about 5 times that of crystalline
naphthalene. 25 years later crystalline anthracene
remains the most efficient organic scintillator in general
use. unfortunately it cannot be grown in such large
crystals as naphthalene.
It was to overcome this limitation that 1 decided
to study the scintillations from naphthalene crystals ^con-
taining different small concentrations of anthracene \ZU\ .
There is an efficient solvent-solute energy transfer
process in organic crystal solutions due to exciton
migration and transfer, and above a certain anthracene
concentration the scintillation yield equals and even
exceeds that of a pure anthracene crystal. Because of the
elimination of the self-absorption which occurs in
anthracene crystals [65] , mixed organic crystals have the
highest scintillation yields of any known organic mole-
cular systems \103 ♦ Moreover they can readily be grown
in volumes as large as pure naphthalene crystals.
Despite these virtues mixed organic crystals have
found little practical application, because of the parall-
el discovery of two more convenient types of organic
solution scintillator. M. Ageno, M. Chiozzotto and R.
Querzoli discovered organic liquid solution scintillators
in 1949, and in 1950 M. G. Schorr and F. L. Torney found
the first organic plastic solution scintillators.
Although organic liquid and plastic solutions have lower
scintillation yields than organic crystal solutions, they
suffer from no limitations of size and shape. Huge sheets
and massive blocks of plastic scintillator are used in
high energy physics and whole-body counting, and kilo-
litre tanks of liquid scintillator are used in cosmic ray
and neutrino research. There is no need to remind this
Symposium of the advantages of liquid scintillators for
the direct incorporation and assay of radio-active
specimens using the internal counting technique.
Scintillation response. The next topic which I decided to
study was the relative scintillation response to different
types of ionizing radiation. The scintillation response
of an organic scintillator to 5 MeV oC -particles is only
about 10 per cent of that to ß> -particles of the same
2