Dosimetry using silver salts
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorBenjamin P. Warner
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for detecting ionizing radiation. Exposure of silver salt AgX to ionizing radiation results in the partial reduction of the salt to a mixture of silver salt and silver metal. The mixture is further reduced by a reducing agent, which causes the production of acid (HX) and the oxidized form of the reducing agent (R). Detection of HX indicates that the silver salt has been exposed to ionizing radiation. The oxidized form of the reducing agent (R) may also be detected. The invention also includes dosimeters employing the above method for detecting ionizing radiation.
Claims17
A method for detecting ionizing radiation, comprising:
- (a) preparing a mixture of a solid phase and a liquid phase, the solid phase comprising at least one silver salt AgX wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, and iodide, the liquid phase comprising an aqueous solution of a reducing agent and a pH indicator that produces a color change in the range of about pH 3-10;
- (b) exposing the mixture to ionizing radiation, whereby at least some of the silver salt is reduced to silver metal and at least some of the reducing agent is oxidized into at least one soluble oxidized product and acid that produces a color change with the pH indicator;
- (c) removing at least a portion of the liquid phase from the mixture;
- and
- (d) detecting the color change.
A dosimeter for detecting ionizing radiation, comprising:
- (a) a porous opaque container;
- (b) a solid phase inside said porous container and a liquid phase, the solid phase comprising at least one silver salt AgX wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, and iodide, the liquid phase comprising an aqueous solution of a reducing agent and a pH indicator that produces a color change in the range of about pH 3-10, the reducing agent releasing acid into the liquid phase upon exposure of the silver salt to ionizing radiation;
- (c) a transparent housing for receiving said porous container and said liquid phase, said housing having an open end and a closed end;
- and
- (d) means for sealing the open end of said housing to provide an air-tight chamber therein.
A dosimeter for detecting ionizing radiation, comprising:
- (a) an opaque housing having an open end and a closed end;
- (b) a pierceable sealing member for sealing the open end of said housing to provide an air-tight chamber therein;
- and
- (c) a mixture of a solid phase and a liquid phase inside said housing, the solid phase comprising at least one silver salt AgX wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, and iodide, the liquid phase comprising an aqueous solution of a reducing agent and a pH indicator that produces a color change in the range of about pH 3-10, the reducing agent releasing acid into the liquid phase upon exposure of the silver salt to ionizing radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.