Determination of alpha activity in organic solvents using CR-39

Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD) like CR-39 offers a unique opportunity to measure alpha radiations in a complex matrix like high level nuclear waste due to its sensitivity to only alpha radiations in the presence of intense beta-gamma radiation field. There is however a concern about the lower sensitivity of SSNTD when the radiation source is present in solution vis-à-vis solid medium. The sensitivity of CR-39 toward detection of alpha particles homogenously distributed in n-hexane, n-dodecane and n-octanol has been investigated and was found to be better than that obtained in 3 M HNO3.