Determination of depleted uranium at the Novi Sad low-level laboratory

Abstract

Activity concentration of natural uranium has been determined in environmental samples at the low-level gamma-spectroscopy laboratory of the Faculty of Science in Novi Sad for over 20 years. When the issue of stating the presence of depleted uranium in such samples arose, the unique capability of our measuring equipment (GMX type of HPGe detector with enhanced efficiency below 100 keV, and iron low level shielding) was fully exploited. An appropriate technique for detecting depleted uranium was developed. This technique and the results of measurements of about 100 environmental samples (soil, plants, water, food) are presented and discussed.