Study of the dose response of the system ferrous ammonium sulfate–sucrose–xylenol orange in acid aqueous solution

• The system ferrous-sucrose-xylenol is reproducibility with less than 5% error.
• The dosimeter has low cost and easy readout using UV-vis spectrometry, and the response is stable for several days.
• The system proposed is suitable for low irradiation doses.

An aqueous solution of ammonium ferrous sulfate–sucrose–xylenol orange in sulfuric acid (FSX) is proposed as a dosimetric system for the processes of gamma irradiation in a range between 0.3 and 6 Gy.This system is based on the indirect oxidation of ferrous ion by an organic compound (sucrose) to ferric ion and on the formation of a color complex of Fe3+ in an acidic medium with xylenol orange (a dye). After gamma radiation, an observable change occurs in the color of the system.Irradiation was executed at three different temperatures (13 °C, 22 °C, and 40 °C). A spectrometric readout method at 585 nm was employed to evaluate the system׳s dose response. In all of the cases analyzed, the responses had a linear behavior, and a slight effect of irradiation temperature was observed. Post-irradiation response was also evaluated and showed the stability of the solutions 24 h after the irradiation.The results obtained suggest that FSX might be used as a dosimeter for low doses of gamma irradiation because it provides a stable signal, good reproducibility, and an accessible technique for analysis.