Characterization of minerals for luminescent dosimetry of ionizing radiations

• Grant number: 19/05915-3
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2019 - March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mining Engineering - Mineral Prospecting
• Principal researcher: Neilo Marcos Trindade
• Grantee: Neilo Marcos Trindade
• Home Institution: Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo (IFSP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Elisabeth Mateus Yoshimura
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/00626-3 - Development of a low cost TL / RL system, BP.TT

Abstract

The project provides for the study of Brazilian minerals for application in radiation dosimetry. Because of the natural samples, the determination of the optical absorption spectrum (OA) is important to allow a correlation between the absorption ions present in the mineral and the effects observed before and after irradiation. Therefore, this project suggests the acquisition of an Optical Absorption Spectrometer in the UV-Vis region. In this project, in addition to the investigations proposed by spectroscopic measurements, usual laboratory techniques such as Thermoluminescence (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) will be used. The first material of interest is alexandrite (BeAl2O4: Cr3 +), chrysoberyl variety widely found in Brazil; however, it is still a little known gem as to its physical properties. In general, the objective of this work is to investigate the presence of Cr3 + and Fe3 + ions in alexandrite, in addition to other elements and phases, and how much they influence the optical properties, mainly regarding optical absorption and luminescent response; and the feasibility for dosimetric material. Recently, the investigation of natural minerals of alexandrite showed that the TL and OSL signal increases linearly as a function of the dose (ionizing radiation beta), therefore, alexandrite has shown potential for use in dosimetry. Still considering its luminescent properties, and that Brazil is currently the world's largest producer of alexandrite, this project also proposes the characterization of detectors in the format of pellets containing alexandrite and a binder. The research will be conducted in collaboration with the University of São Paulo. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TRINDADE, N. M.; CRUZ, M. R.; YOSHIMURA, E. M. Correlation between thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence responses of natural alexandrite. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, v. 166, DEC 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

NUNES, M. C. S.; LIMA, L. S.; YOSHIMURA, E. M.; FRANCA, L. V. S.; BAFFA, O.; JACOBSOHN, L. G.; MALTHEZ, A. L. M. C.; KUNZEL, R.; TRINDADE, N. M. Characterization of the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) response of beta-irradiated alexandrite-polymer composites. Journal of Luminescence, v. 226, OCT 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

TRINDADE, N. M.; SILVA, E. P.; NUNES, M. C. S.; MUNOZ, J. M.; SANTOS, J. C. A.; YOSHIMURA, E. M.; SILVA, R. S. Synthesis and thermoluminescence properties of MgAl2O4:Ca laser-sintered ceramics. Optical Materials, v. 108, OCT 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

TRINDADE, N. M.; MAGALHAES, M. G.; NUNES, M. C. S.; YOSHIMURA, E. M.; JACOBSOHN, L. G. Thermoluminescence of UV-irradiated alpha-Al2O3 :C,Mg. Journal of Luminescence, v. 223, JUL 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.