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El Afifi EM, Mansy MS, Hilal MA. Radiochemical signature of radium-isotopes and some radiological hazard parameters in TENORM waste associated with petroleum production: A review study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 256:107042. [PMID: 36283880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Large amounts of TENORM waste (produced water, scale, and sludge) are created in oilfields around the world, presenting radiological risks to employees, the public, and the environment since activity concentrations of radioactive substances were above the exemption levels accredited by several authorities. Using the activity concentration of the radium-isotopes (226Ra and 228Ra) in the waste, we determined the 'fingerprint' as a radiochemical signature and some relevant 'radiological hazard parameters' in this review. The majority of the reported residues take the form of radio-contaminated (produced water, scale, and sludge) generated in Egypt's oilfields or elsewhere include radium isotope activity concentrations (226,228Ra) that exceed the international exemption limit. The activity concentrations of 226Ra(238U-series) in produced water, scale, and sludge waste were 0.04-1,480 Bq/L, 1.1-2,015,000 Bq/kg, and 1-120,800 Bq/kg, respectively, whereas 228Ra (232Th-series) was 0.34-250 Bq/L, 1.8-1,428,000 Bq/kg, and 10-122,830 Bq/kg, respectively. The radioactivities of radium isotopes were found to be above the exemption values recognized by WHO, IAEA, IOGP, EC, and ICRP in 95, 82, and 58% of produced water, scale, and sludge waste, respectively. The 226Ra(238U)/228Ra(232Th) ratio, from the other hand, was estimated to be utilised as a 'radiochemical fingerprint', or signature in the reported TENORM residues. The radium isotopes ratio in produced water, scale, and sludge waste in Egypt's oilfields is 0.41-4.45 (av. 1.98 ± 1.37, coefficient of variation, COV %: ∼69%), 0.2-21.4 (av. 4.3 ± 4.7, ∼109%), and 1.4-52.2 (av. 9.6 ± 15.3, ∼159%), respectively. For produced water, scale, and sludge waste, the 226Ra/228Ra ratios are 0.12-9.1 (av. 1.43 ± 1.72, ∼120%), 0.2-159 (av. 7.78 ± 23.5, ∼302%), and 0.8-223.5 (av. 14.1 ± 45.4, ∼322%) in global oilfields. The radiological hazard parameters (Ig, Ia, E◦, EG, and ELCR) owing to radium isotopes or 222Rn in most scale and sludge residues, as well as a small percentage of produced water, are all over the allowed safe limits. Substantial differences in the radium isotopes ratio in the reported waste can be attributed to thier geological, chemical, physical, and/or operational constraints. However, from the different perspectives of remediation and/or radiation protection programs, these values can be employed as a guidance for organizations investing in oil and gas production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsayed M El Afifi
- Analytical Chemistry and Control Department, Hot Labs and Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office Code 13759, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Muhammad S Mansy
- Analytical Chemistry and Control Department, Hot Labs and Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office Code 13759, Cairo, Egypt; Radioactive Waste Management Unit, Hot Labs and Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office Code 13759, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Moustafa A Hilal
- Analytical Chemistry and Control Department, Hot Labs and Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office Code 13759, Cairo, Egypt
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Ali MMM, Zhao H, Li Z, Maglas NNM. Concentrations of TENORMs in the petroleum industry and their environmental and health effects. RSC Adv 2019; 9:39201-39229. [PMID: 35540685 PMCID: PMC9076086 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra06086c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Crude oil and its products and wastes are among the significant sources of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs). These materials may be enhanced to high levels due to technological and human activities, which are called technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORMs). Thus, the average radioactivity of these radionuclides sometimes exceeds the exemption level of 10 000 Bq kg−1, which is recommended by the IAEA's safety standards. TENORMs in the oil and gas industry may generate greater radioactivity levels, which eventually represents potential environmental and health risks. This will require continuous attention by monitoring and surveillance during routine processes in the petroleum industry. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the published literature is conducted to evaluate the TENORM concentrations in the oil and gas industry. Moreover, their environmental and health hazards in different regions of the world are discussed. Crude oil and its products and wastes are among the significant sources of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs).![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen M. M. Ali
- Fundamental Science on Nuclear Safety and Simulation Technology Laboratory
- Harbin Engineering University
- Harbin 150001
- China
- National Atomic Energy Commission-Yemen
| | - Hongtao Zhao
- Fundamental Science on Nuclear Safety and Simulation Technology Laboratory
- Harbin Engineering University
- Harbin 150001
- China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Fundamental Science on Nuclear Safety and Simulation Technology Laboratory
- Harbin Engineering University
- Harbin 150001
- China
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Mohammad Modarresi S, Farhad Masoudi S. On the gamma spectrometry efficiency of reference materials and soil samples. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 183:54-58. [PMID: 29306092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The relative discrepancies between the gamma spectrometry efficiency of RGU, RGTh, RGK reference materials and some soil samples have been studied using a MCNP model of a real HPGe detector. It has been shown that, in a specified geometry, efficiencies differences depend on the sample elemental composition. The elemental compositions of RGU-1, RGTh-1 reference materials and a soil sample have been evaluated using X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) method and used in the MCNP simulation along with RGK-1 and six other soil samples with different elemental compositions to calculate their efficiencies in different gamma ray energies. To estimate the maximum relative efficiencies differences between soil samples and reference materials, five soil samples with higher attenuation properties were selected from a large data set of soils elemental compositions. The results show that the efficiency differences between soil samples and reference materials are almost ignorable for more than 100 KeV gamma energies. It strongly depends on the sample attenuation factor in the lower energies, so use of a self-attenuation correction is essential for radionuclide counting in low energies gamma rays. Results show about 8 percent discrepancy between RGU and two soil samples efficiencies in 63.2 KeV energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mohammad Modarresi
- Department of Physics, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, P.O. Box 15875-4416, Tehran, Iran
| | - S Farhad Masoudi
- Department of Physics, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, P.O. Box 15875-4416, Tehran, Iran.
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Lluch E, Barrera J, Tarancón A, Bagán H, García J. Analysis of 210Pb in water samples with plastic scintillation resins. Anal Chim Acta 2016; 940:38-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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5
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Broad-energy germanium detector for routine and rapid analysis of naturally occurring radioactive materials. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-016-4974-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Al Attar L, Safia B, Ghani BA, Al Abdulah J. Recovery of NORM from scales generated by oil extraction. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 153:149-155. [PMID: 26773509 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Scales, containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), are a major problem in oil production that lead to costly remediation and disposal programmes. In view of environmental protection, radio and chemical characterisation is an essential step prior to waste treatment. This study focuses on developing of a protocol to recover (226)Ra and (210)Pb from scales produced by petroleum industry. X-ray diffractograms of the scales indicated the presence of barite-strontium (Ba0.75Sr0.25SO4) and hokutolite (Ba0.69Pb0.31SO4) as main minerals. Quartz, galena and Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 or sphalerite and iron oxide were found in minor quantities. Incineration to 600 °C followed by enclosed-digestion and acid-treatment gave complete digestion. Using (133)Ba and (210)Pb tracers as internal standards gave recovery ranged 87-91% for (226)Ra and ca. 100% for (210)Pb. Radium was finally dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid, while (210)Pb dissolved in the former solution as well as in 8 M nitric acid. Dissolving the scales would provide better estimation of their radionuclides contents, facilitate the determination of their chemical composition, and make it possible to recycle NORM wastes in terms of radionuclides production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Al Attar
- Department of Protection and Safety, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, P.O. Box 6091, Syria.
| | - Bassam Safia
- Department of Protection and Safety, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, P.O. Box 6091, Syria
| | - Basem Abdul Ghani
- Department of Protection and Safety, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, P.O. Box 6091, Syria
| | - Jamal Al Abdulah
- Department of Protection and Safety, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, P.O. Box 6091, Syria
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Al Attar L, Safia B, Abdul Ghani B. Chemical composition of scales generated from oil industry and correlation to radionuclide contents and gamma-ray measurements of (210)Pb. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 210:246-252. [PMID: 26741561 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Scale generated from the maintenance of equipment contaminated by naturally occurring radioactive materials may contain also chemical components that cause hazardous pollution to human health and the environment. This study spotlights the characterisation of chemical pollutants in scales in relation to home-made comparison samples as no reference material for such waste exists. Analysis by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence, with accuracy and precision better than 90%, revealed that barium was the most abundant element in scale samples, ranging from 1.4 to 38.2%. The concentrations of the toxic elements such as lead and chromium were as high as 2.5 and 1.2% respectively. Statistically, high correlation was observed between the concentration of Ba and Sr, sample density, radionuclide contents ((210)Pb and (226)Ra) and self-attenuation factor used for the radio-measurements. However, iron showed a reverse correlation. Interpretation of data with regards to the mineralogical components indicated that (226)Ra and (210)Pb co-precipitated with the insoluble salt Ba0.75Sr0.25SO4. Since both Ba and Sr have high Z, samples of high density (ρ) were accompanied with high values of self-attenuation correction factors (Cf) for the emitted radiation; correlation matrix of Pearson reached 0.935 between ρ and Cf. An attempt to eliminate the effect of the elemental composition and improve gamma measurements of (210)Pb activity concentration in scale samples was made, which showed no correction for self-attenuation was needed when sample densities were in the range 1.0-1.4 g cm(-3). For denser samples, a mathematical model was developed. Accurate determinations of radionuclide and chemical contents of scale would facilitate future Environmental Impact Assessment for the petroleum industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Al Attar
- Department of Protection and Safety, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, P.O. Box 6091, Syria.
| | - Bassam Safia
- Department of Protection and Safety, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, P.O. Box 6091, Syria
| | - Basem Abdul Ghani
- Department of Protection and Safety, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, P.O. Box 6091, Syria
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Al Abdullah J, Al Masri M, Amin Y. Dissolution of [ 226 Ra]BaSO 4 and partial separation of 226 Ra from radium/barium sulfate: A new treatment method for NORM waste from petroleum industry. Appl Radiat Isot 2016; 107:377-381. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Anagnostakis MJ. Environmental radioactivity measurements and applications – Difficulties, current status and future trends. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2015.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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11
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Misdaq MA, Chaouqi A, Ouguidi J, Touti R, Mortassim A. Measurement of 238U and 232Th in Petrol, Gas-oil and Lubricant Samples by Using Nuclear Track Detectors and Resulting Radiation Doses to the Skin of Mechanic Workers. HEALTH PHYSICS 2015; 109:269-276. [PMID: 26313584 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000000332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Workers in repair shops of vehicles (cars, buses, truck, etc.) clean carburetors, check fuel distribution, and perform oil changes and greasing. To explore the exposure pathway of (238)U and (232)Th and its decay products to the skin of mechanic workers, these radionuclides were measured inside petrol, gas-oil, and lubricant material samples by means of CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs), and corresponding annual committed equivalent doses to skin were determined. The maximum total equivalent effective dose to skin due to the (238)U and (232)Th series from the application of different petrol, gas-oil, and lubricant samples by mechanic workers was found equal to 1.2 mSv y(-1) cm(-2).
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Misdaq
- *Nuclear Physics and Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, BP.2390, University of Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco (URAC-15 Research Unit Associated to the CNRST, Rabat, Morocco)
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12
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Xhixha G, Alberi M, Baldoncini M, Bode K, Bylyku E, Cfarku F, Callegari I, Hasani F, Landsberger S, Mantovani F, Rodriguez E, Shala F, Strati V, Kaçeli MX. Calibration of HPGe detectors using certified reference materials of natural origin. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4360-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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13
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Li G, Liang Y, Xu J, Bai L. Efficiency corrections in determining the (137)Cs inventory of environmental soil samples by using relative measurement method and GEANT4 simulations. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2015; 146:94-101. [PMID: 25973538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The determination of (137)Cs inventory is widely used to estimate the soil erosion or deposition rate. The generally used method to determine the activity of volumetric samples is the relative measurement method, which employs a calibration standard sample with accurately known activity. This method has great advantages in accuracy and operation only when there is a small difference in elemental composition, sample density and geometry between measuring samples and the calibration standard. Otherwise it needs additional efficiency corrections in the calculating process. The Monte Carlo simulations can handle these correction problems easily with lower financial cost and higher accuracy. This work presents a detailed description to the simulation and calibration procedure for a conventionally used commercial P-type coaxial HPGe detector with cylindrical sample geometry. The effects of sample elemental composition, density and geometry were discussed in detail and calculated in terms of efficiency correction factors. The effect of sample placement was also analyzed, the results indicate that the radioactive nuclides and sample density are not absolutely uniform distributed along the axial direction. At last, a unified binary quadratic functional relationship of efficiency correction factors as a function of sample density and height was obtained by the least square fitting method. This function covers the sample density and height range of 0.8-1.8 g/cm(3) and 3.0-7.25 cm, respectively. The efficiency correction factors calculated by the fitted function are in good agreement with those obtained by the GEANT4 simulations with the determination coefficient value greater than 0.9999. The results obtained in this paper make the above-mentioned relative measurements more accurate and efficient in the routine radioactive analysis of environmental cylindrical soil samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Li
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan Province, China.
| | - Yongfei Liang
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan Province, China.
| | - Jiayun Xu
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan Province, China.
| | - Lixin Bai
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan Province, China
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Hilal MA, Attallah MF, Mohamed GY, Fayez-Hassan M. Evaluation of radiation hazard potential of TENORM waste from oil and natural gas production. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 136:121-6. [PMID: 24949581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a potential radiation hazard from TENORM sludge wastes generated during exploration and extraction processes of oil and gas was evaluated. The activity concentration of natural radionuclides (238)U, (226)Ra and (232)Th were determined in TENORM sludge waste. It was found that sludge waste from oil and gas industry is one of the major sources of (226)Ra in the environment. Therefore, some preliminary chemical treatment of sludge waste using Triton X-100 was also investigated to reduce the radioactivity content as well as the risk of radiation hazard from TENORM wastes. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra and (228)Ra in petroleum sludge materials before and after chemical treatment were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry. The average values of the activity concentrations of (226)Ra and (228)Ra measured in the original samples were found as 8908 Bq kg(-1) and 933 Bq kg(-1), respectively. After chemical treatment of TENORM samples, the average values of the activity concentrations of (226)Ra and (228)Ra measured in the samples were found as 7835 Bq kg(-1) and 574 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Activity concentration index, internal index, absorbed gamma dose rate and the corresponding effective dose rate were estimated for untreated and treated samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Hilal
- Analytical Chemistry and Control Department, Hot Laboratories and Waste Management Center (HLWMC), Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office No. 13759, Cairo, Egypt
| | - M F Attallah
- Analytical Chemistry and Control Department, Hot Laboratories and Waste Management Center (HLWMC), Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office No. 13759, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Gehan Y Mohamed
- Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Center (NRC), Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office No. 13759, Cairo 13759, Egypt.
| | - M Fayez-Hassan
- Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Center (NRC), Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office No. 13759, Cairo 13759, Egypt
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Błachucki W, Szlachetko J, Hoszowska J, Dousse JC, Kayser Y, Nachtegaal M, Sá J. High energy resolution off-resonant spectroscopy for x-ray absorption spectra free of self-absorption effects. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2014; 112:173003. [PMID: 24836243 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.112.173003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
X-ray emission spectra recorded in the off-resonant regime carry information on the density of unoccupied states. It is known that by employing the Kramers-Heisenberg formalism, the high energy resolution off-resonant spectroscopy (HEROS) is equivalent to the x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) technique and provides the same electronic state information. Moreover, in the present Letter we demonstrate that the shape of HEROS spectra is not modified by self-absorption effects. Therefore, in contrast to the fluorescence-based XAS techniques, the recorded shape of the spectra is independent of the sample concentration or thickness. The HEROS may thus be used as an experimental technique when precise information about specific absorption features and their strengths is crucial for chemical speciation or theoretical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Błachucki
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - J Szlachetko
- Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland and Institute of Physics, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-406 Kielce, Poland
| | - J Hoszowska
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - J-Cl Dousse
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Y Kayser
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - M Nachtegaal
- Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
| | - J Sá
- Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
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