Calibration of an HPGe detector and self-attenuation correction for 210Pb: Verification by alpha spectrometry of 210Po in environmental samples

In this work the calibration of an HPGe detector for 210Pb measurement is realised by a liquid standard source and the determination of this radionuclide in solid environmental samples by gamma spectrometry takes into account a correction factor for self-attenuation of its 46.5 keV line. Experimental, theoretical and Monte Carlo investigations are undertaken to evaluate self-attenuation for cylindrical sample geometry. To validate this correction factor, 210Po (at equilibrium with 210Pb) alpha spectrometry procedure using microwave acid digestion under pressure is developed and proposed. The different self-attenuation correction methods are in coherence, and corrected 210Pb activities are in good agreement with the results of 210Po. Finally, self-attenuation corrections are proposed for environmental solid samples whose density ranges between 0.8 and 1.4 g/cm3 and whose mass attenuation coefficient is around 0.4 cm2/g.