Counting radon in water
26th March 2025
At a glance
> The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology is using a Hidex 300 SL liquid scintillation counter to count samples of 222Rn-H2O.
> With large deposits of granite and many rural areas relying on wells for water in Montana, elevated levels of radon pose a risk.
> The 300 SL automatically begins analysis of radon samples after equilibration, removing the need for manual user input and meaning samples can be run overnight if needed.
Monitoring radon in groundwater
As a mountainous state with large granite batholiths, Montana has relatively high levels of radon. As the radon dissolves into groundwater, it can contaminate wells in rural areas where mains water may not be accessible. While radon in water – 222Rn-H2O – is generally less concerning than radon gas indoors, it can still contribute to overall exposure when it is released into the air during washing and cooking.
The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) serves as the state’s geological survey. Based at Montana Tech, hydrogeologists have been using a Hidex 300 SL liquid scintillation counter for many years to analyze collected water samples.
Automatic analysis straight after equilibration
A bottleneck in the analysis of 222Rn-H2O is the time it takes for samples to equilibrate, which is more than three hours. With older models of LSCs, manual input is required to begin the analysis. However, once the vials have been loaded into the 300 SL, it will automatically begin counting after equilibration. This allows users to begin analysis at any time, even when samples arrive in the lab late in the day when the radon won’t be equilibrated until after hours. Samples can be analyzed overnight, ready for the following morning.
The only LSC software compatible with Windows
Another key difference between Hidex and other LSCs is the software. Hidex’s MikroWin is the only LSC software that is fully compatible with Microsoft Windows. This means it can be run on any laptop or desktop, whereas other manufacturers use internal computers that are integrated into the counter itself. This poses a problem if the internal computer develops a fault, as it prevents the LSC from operating. Being able to use an external computer to manage your instrument allows MikroWin software to be easily updated with new releases and is compatible with Microsoft’s latest security features introduced in Windows 11.
Find out more
You can find out more about the Hidex 300 SL by clicking the button below to speak to a product specialist directly.