Estimation of measurement uncertainty for 230Th radioisotope analysis in soil

Abstract

Theuncertainty of a measurement is the interval of values within which the truevalue is believed to lie with a stated probability when all sources of errorhave been taken into account and is therefore represents the reliability of ameasurement. In this study, we evaluate the measurement uncertainty in the determinationof 230Th in the soil sample using a radiochemical separationprocedure and alpha spectrometry. All the sources in the analysis method thatcontribute to the combined uncertainty were identified. The uncertaintyassociated with a certain parameter was used to determine its partialcontribution to the combined standard uncertainty of the measurand. The spreadsheetand full matematical approach was used to present the combined standarduncertainty.