Effect of solute mass and solvent pH on lyoluminescent saccharides used for gamma-ray dosimetry

The lyoluminescence yield in γ-irradiated glucose, lactose and mannose has been studied, to look for the effect of mass at different doses and solvent pHs on the yield. It is seen that the light yield per mg (Y/m) is different for different solute masses and its nature of variation with mass is independent of irradiation dose and solvent pH. Further, Y/m is independent of pH in the range 4–9. No significant dependence of Y/m on solute mass is found above a certain mass, the level-off point. Estimation of a dose, when it is necessary to be carried out by using a solute mass below the level-off point, therefore, has to be made with reference to the particular Y/m vs dose curve drawn for that solute mass.