Measurement of tritium concentration in water by imaging plate

Concentration of tritium in water (4–400 kBq cm−3) was measured by exposing an imaging plate without protection layer (Fujifilm, BAS-IP TR) to vapor for 2–48 h. It was found that tritium gradually penetrated into Eu-doped BaFBr phosphor and induced sufficiently intense photostimulated luminescence (PSL) even at the concentration of 4 kBq cm−3. The intensity of PSL was proportional to tritium concentration in water. In addition, tritium absorbed in phosphor was reversibly released by keeping IP in air, and IP was able to be used repeatedly if total duration of exposure was ca. 24 h or less. The contamination of IP with tritium was not serious. It was concluded that IP technique has potential to measure tritium concentration in water without direct handling of tritiated water and with a minimum amount of radioactive waste.

► Concentration of tritium in water was measured by exposing an imaging plate (IP) (BAS-MS TR) to vapor.
► Tritium penetrated into phosphor and induced sufficiently intense luminescence at the concentration as low as 4 kBq cm−3.
► Tritium absorbed in phosphor was reversibly released by keeping IP in air, and IP was able to be used repeatedly.
► We concluded that IP technique is suitable to measure tritium concentration in water.