Investigation of the role of the production process on the luminescence of sea salt products

Luminescence dosimetry assumes samples of a given material with diverse provenances behave in a predictable manner, allowing a standardised testing protocol, such as SAR for quartz, to be employed. This article demonstrates that distinct salt products derived from a single manufacturer’s feedstock retain comparable luminescence behaviour. This is the basis of a standardised test protocol: uniting testing procedures which have been shown to be individually applicable. Generalization across samples from different manufacturers and processes is currently under investigation.

Luminescent evaluation of five samples produced by Cheetham & Co. gave useful intensities for all emission bands (590 nm, 420 nm and 360 nm TL and blue stimulated OSL), with the spectral and intensity balance of emissions generally similar for each sample. 590 nm emission sensitization was noted after preheating samples to 135°C and 300°C for five minutes. But, the 360 nm TL emission from feedstock salt was a factor of five greater than the same signal from the other processed samples despite the OSL intensity being similar to the other samples.

Spectrum variation between aliquots as measured by the 3D TL spectrometer was also investigated and found to be minimal for both the first and second TL glow cycles.