Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An open loop equilibrator for continuous monitoring of radon at the groundwater–surface water interface

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A continuous monitoring system (CMS) using an open loop equilibrator for assessment of 222Rn at the groundwater–surface water interface was developed and tested. For the characterization and validation of the system, three air loops (open loop, closed loop, and open bubble loop) were tested in relation to high and precise count rates, rapid response, and equilibration of radon. The water and air stream is fed to the equilibrator by an experimental setup with a commercial submersible water pump and the internal pump with built-in radon-in-air detector. Efficiency calibration of the CMS is done by simultaneous determination of a groundwater sample using liquid scintillation counting, and the RAD7 accessories RAD-H2O, BigBottle RAD-H2O. The higher count rates are provided by the closed loop. However, the open loop with bubbler (open bubble loop) provides the best precision count rates, rapid response, and equilibration time. The CMS allows radon determination in discrete water samples as well as continuous water streams.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. EPA (Aug 1986) A citizen’s guide to radon, what it is and what to do about it. OPA-86-004

  2. NCRP (National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements) (1984) NCRP report no. 78. NCRP, Bethesda

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lee KY, Yoon YY, Ko KS (2010) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 286:381–385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lee KY, Yoon YY, Cho SY, Ko KS, Yum B (2012) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 294:27–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Burnett WC, Kim G, Lane-Smith D (2001) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 249:167–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Peterson RN, Santos IR, Burnett WC (2010) Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 86:165–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Santos IR, Lechuga-Deveze C, Peterson RN, Burnett WC (2011) Chem Geol 282:1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. DURRIDGE Company Inc. (2012) RAD7 RADON DETECTOR user manual (Revision 7.1.8). DURRIDGE Company Inc., Massachusetts

  9. Schubert M, Buerkin W, Pena P, Lopez AE, Balcazar M (2006) Radiat Meas 41:492–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Schubert M, Schmidt A, Paschke A, Lopez A, Balcazar M (2008) Radiat Meas 43:111–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Weigel F (1978) Radon Chem Zig 102:287–299

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Monnin M, Seidel J (1998) J Appl Geophys 39:209–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Freyer K, Treutler HC, Just G, Philipsborn H (2003) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 257(1):129–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Dulaiova H, Peterson R, Burnett WC, Lane-Smith D (2005) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 263(2):361–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mathieu GG, Biscaye PE, Lupton RA, Hammond DE (1988) Health Phys 55:989–992

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Burnett WC, Dulaiova H (2003) J Environ Radioact 69:21–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Schmidt A, Schlueter M, Melles M, Schubert M (2008) Appl Radiat Isot 66:1939–1944

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee KY, Burnett WC (2013) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 298:1359–1365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Basic Research Project (14-3211-2) of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 124 Gwahang-no, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-350, Korea

    Kil Yong Lee, Yoon Yeol Yoon, Soo Young Cho, Eunhee Lee, Sang-Ho Moon, Dong-Chan Koh, Kyoochul Ha, Yongcheol Kim & Kyung-Seok Ko

Authors
  1. Kil Yong Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yoon Yeol Yoon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Soo Young Cho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eunhee Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sang-Ho Moon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dong-Chan Koh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kyoochul Ha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Yongcheol Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Kyung-Seok Ko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongcheol Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lee, K.Y., Yoon, Y.Y., Cho, S.Y. et al. An open loop equilibrator for continuous monitoring of radon at the groundwater–surface water interface. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 304, 33–39 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3502-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3502-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation