Evaluation of radioactivity decontamination from different
materials for surfaces of a
generally purpose radioisotope laboratory
Radioisotope Laboratory, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy
and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires,
Argentina. [email protected].
1. Introduction1. Introduction
2. Methods2. Methods
4. Discussion & Conclusions4. Discussion &
Conclusions
The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of
radioactive decontaminationeffectiveness of radioactive
decontamination of commonly used materials employed for laboratory
surfaces. In addition we also evaluated how solvent spills can
modify it.
9999Mo/Mo/99m99mTc Tc Generator Generator (a)
Initial ActivityInitial Activitywas measured in a dose
calibrator dose calibrator
(b)
The three surfaces were contaminated contaminated (c)(c)
DecontaminationDecontamination with cotton pieces rinsed with
water and neutral commercial cleaning agent (d)
Removed activity was measured in a SSC SSC (solid scintillantion
counter)
using a 99m99mTc standard Tc standard (e)
%RA=%RA=Removed activityRemoved activity
Inicial activityInicial activity
The same procedure was repeated with samples of the surfaces
previously treated with: acetone, methyl-ethyl-cetone (MEK),
ethanol (EtOH) and methanol (MeOH).
Dupont®Corian®
Mipolam 3003. Results3. Results
Dupont®Corian® is better decontaminated than the other surfaces
because it has the highest
%RA.
Dupont®Corian® is better decontaminated than the other surfaces
because it has the highest
%RA.
Mipolam 300 has a higher %RA after being treated with acetone or
MEK.
Mipolam 300 Mipolam 300 has a higher %RA after being treated
with acetone or MEK.
The %RA decreases when Dupont®Corian® is treated using solvents
with the exception of MEK that
increases it.
The %RA decreases when DupontDupont®®CorianCorian®® is treated
using solvents with the exception of MEK that
increases it.
How effective decontamination is?How effective decontamination
is?
According to these preliminary results Dupont®Corian® is the
most suitable surface for stands of a generally purpose
radioisotope laboratory that uses different solvents since it is
better decontaminated with standard cleaning agents. Further
research is needed to compare Mipolam 300 with other material
surfaces suitable for laboratory floors and to evaluate other
working simulated conditions as well.
Stainless steelStainless steel
DupontDupont®®CorianCorian®®
Mipolam 300Mipolam 300
BorrBorréé C, TesC, Tesáán F, Leonardi N, Rivera E, Zubillaga M,
Salgueiro MJn F, Leonardi N, Rivera E, Zubillaga M, Salgueiro
MJ
%RA was calculated (f)
Gabriela Martin, phD
