Thermoluminescence response of gamma-irradiated sesame with mineral dust

Abstract

The thermoluminescence (TL) emission of minerals isolated from Mexican and Indian sesame seeds appear as a good tool to discern between irradiated and non-irradiated samples. According to the X-ray diffraction and environmental scanning microscope, the adhered dust in both samples is mainly composed by different amounts of quartz and feldspars. These mineral phases exhibit (i) enough sensitivity to ionizing radiation inducing good TL intensity, (ii) high stability of the TL signal during the storage of the material (i.e. low fading) and (iii) are thermally and chemically stable. Blind tests performed under laboratory conditions, but simulating industrial preservation processes (similar temperature and moisture, and presence of white light), allows us to distinguish between 1 kGy gamma-irradiated and non-irradiated samples even 11000 hours (15 months) after the irradiation proceeding.