Potassium Concentration by Natural ^40K-^40Ar Y Rays Detection in Four Basic Diet Products （Milk, Eggs, Wheat and Corn）  

作　　者：Juan Manuel Navarrete Trinidad Martinez Luis Cabrera Pilar Lizarraga Miguel Angel Zuniga Michelle Camacho 

机构地区：[1]Faculty of Chemistry, Building D, National University of Mexico, CU, Mexico City, ZC 04510, Mexico

出　　处：《Journal of Life Sciences》2011年第8期614-617,共4页生命科学（英文版）

摘　　要：The purpose of this paper is double： first to measure the natural radioactivity in any food by detecting the omnipresent radiation of ^40K, and then to use this date to obtain the concentration of the important mineral nutrient K, by dividing the specific activity of the sample （Bq/g） by the specific activity of elementary K （31.19 Bq/g）. The method implies the γ rays detection emitted by natural ^40K-^40Ar present in foodstuff, by using a 3 × 3＂ low background NaI （TI） scintillation detector coupled to a PC charged with the Maestro Program. When this detection system is calibrated in order to determine its efficiency for 1461 KeV γrays emitted during ^40K-^40Ar decaying, it is possible to measure easily and with enough precision the specific activity due to natural ^40K present in any foodstuff. Once this figure is divided by the constant value of ^40K specific activity of elementary K, the concentration of this element in the foodstuff sample is established. This paper describes the procedure and shows the results obtained with four basic diet products： milk （powdered, light and cream）, eggs （yellow and white）, wheat （whole and refined flour） and corn （whole and cornstarch flour）. The possible application of this study seems to be to establish the necessary threshold to evaluate the importance of any possible radioactive contamination, as well as to measure the concentration of the mineral nutrient K in foodstuff, by means of an easy, practicable method. Also, it might be useful as an experiment for teaching purposes.

关 键 词：RADIOACTIVITY NOURISHMENT potassium concentration ^40K-^40Ar Y rays. 

分 类 号：S823.2[农业科学—畜牧学] X837[农业科学—畜牧兽医]