Radioactivity -2 Decay Chains and Equilibrium IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency Day 1 – Lecture 5 Objective To discuss radioactive decay chains (parent and single decay product) and equilibrium situations IAEA 2 Content Secular equilibrium Transient equilibrium Case of no equilibrium Radioactive decay series Ingrowth of decay product from a parent radionuclide IAEA 3 Types of Radioactive Equilibrium Secular IAEA Half-life of parent much greater (> 100 times) than that of decay product 4 Types of Radioactive Equilibrium Transient IAEA Half-life of parent only greater (only 10 times greater) than that of decay product 5 Sample Radioactive Series Decay 90Sr 90Y 90Zr where 90Sr is the parent (half-life = 28 years) and 90Y is the decay product (half-life = 64 hours) IAEA 6 Differential Equation for Radioactive Series Decay Parent and Single Decay Product dNY = Sr NSr - Y NY dt IAEA The instantaneous rate of change of Y-90 is made up of two terms: the production rate, which is equal to the Sr-90 decay rate; and the rate of loss, which is the decay rate of Y-90. Differential Equation for Radioactive Series Decay Parent and Single Decay Product SrNSr t t Sr (e - e Y) NY(t) = Y - Sr o Recall that Sr NoSr = AoSr which equals the initial activity of 90Sr at time t = 0 IAEA General Equation for Radioactive Series Decay Activity of 90Sr at time t = 0 Y SrNSr - Srt - Yt (e -e ) YNY(t) = Y - Sr o Activity of 90Y at time t or AY(t) IAEA Secular Equilibrium Buildup of a Decay Product under Secular Equilibrium Conditions AY(t) = ASr (1 - e-Yt) IAEA 10 Secular Equilibrium SrNSr = YNY ASr = AY At secular equilibrium the activities of the parent and decay product are equal and constant with time IAEA 11 Secular Equilibrium Decay of 226Ra to 222Rn ARn (t) = Ao (1 - e-Rn t ) Ra Beginning with zero activity, the activity of the decay product becomes equal to the activity of the parent within 7 or so half-lives of the decay product IAEA 12 Sample Problem 1 226Ra (half-life 1600 years) decays to 222Rn (halflife 3.8 days). If initially there is 100 µCi of 226Ra in a sample and no 222Rn, calculate how much 222Rn is produced: a. b. after 7 half-lives of 222Rn at equilibrium IAEA Solution to Sample Problem The number of atoms of 222Rn at time t is given by: dNRn dt = Ra NRa - Rn NRn Solving: NRn(t) = IAEA RaNRa Rn (1 - e-Rnt) Solution to Sample Problem Multiplying both sides of the equation by Rn: ARn(t) = ARa (1 - e-Rn t) Let t = 7 TRn Rnt = (0.693/TRn) x 7 TRn = 0.693 * 7 = 4.85 e-4.85 = 0.00784 ARn (7 half-lives) = 100 µCi * (1 - 0.00784 ) = 100 * (0.992) = 99.2 µCi of 222Rn IAEA Solution to Sample Problem Now, at secular equilibrium: RnNRn = RaNRa or ARn = ARa = 100 µCi Note that the total activity in this sample is: RnNRn + RaNRa or ARn + ARa = 100 µCi + 100 µCi = 200 µCi IAEA Transient Equilibrium D P NP D ND = D - P For the case of transient equilibrium, the general equation for radioactive series decay reduces to the above equation. IAEA Transient Equilibrium AD = AP D D - P Expressing it in terms of activities of parent and decay product. IAEA Transient Equilibrium Time for Decay Product to Reach Maximum Activity tmD IAEA D ln P = D - P Transient Equilibrium Example of Transient Equilibrium 132Te Decays to 132I Te-132 - 78.2 hr half life I 132 - 2.2 hr half life Note that: I-132 reaches a maximum activity, after which it appears to decay with the half-life of the parent Te-132. the activity of the decay product can never be higher than the initial activity of its parent IAEA . 20 Sample Problem The principle of transient equilibrium is illustrated by the Molybdenum-Technetium radioisotope generator used in nuclear medicine applications. Given initially that the generator contains 100 mCi of 99Mo (half-life 66 hours) and no 99mTc (half-life 6 hours) calculate the: a. time required for 99mTc to reach its maximum activity b. activity of 99Mo at this time, and c. activity of 99mTc at this time IAEA Sample Problem Note that only 86% of the 99Mo transformations produce 99mTc. The remaining 14% bypass the isomeric state and directly produce 99Tc IAEA Solution to Sample Problem ln tmTc = a) Tc Mo Tc - Mo Tc = 0.693/(6 hr) = 0.12 hr-1 Mo = 0.693/(66 hr) = 0.011 hr-1 ln tmTc = IAEA 0.12 0.011 0.12 – 0.011 = 21.9 hrs Solution to Sample Problem (b) The activity of 99Mo is given by A(t) = Ao e-t = 100 mCi e(-0.011/hr * 21.9 hr) = 100 * (0.79) = 79 mCi IAEA Solution to Sample Problem c) The activity of 99mTc at t = 21.9 hrs is given by: TcAMo t) ATc(t) = (e- Mot - e- Tc Tc - Mo ATc(t) = (0.12)(100 mCi)(0.86) (0.12 – 0.011) (see slide 10) (e-(0.011)(21.9) - e-(0.12)(21.9)) = (94.7) (0.785 - 0.071) = 67.6 mCi of 99mTc IAEA Solution to Sample Problem The maximum activity of 99mTc is achieved at 21.9 hours which is nearly 1 day. IAEA Types of Radioactive Equilibrium No Equilibrium IAEA Half-life of parent less than that of decay product 27 No Equilibrium In this case, the half-life of the parent is less than that of the decay product and no equilibrium can be established. IAEA 28 Summary Activity defined and units discussed Decay constant defined Half-life defined - relationship to decay constant Radioactive decay equation derived Mean life derived - relationship to half-life Secular equilibrium was defined Transient equilibrium was defined Case of no equilibrium was defined IAEA 29 Where to Get More Information Cember, H., Johnson, T. E, Introduction to Health Physics, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York (2009) International Atomic Energy Agency, Postgraduate Educational Course in Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources (PGEC), Training Course Series 18, IAEA, Vienna (2002) IAEA 30
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