A study of the characteristics of natural dyes extracted from plants as high dose chemical dosimeters
Keywords:
Aqueous solutions, natural dye, chemical dosimetry, gamma irradiation,, optical density (OD).Abstract
In the present work aqueous solutions of three natural dyes, that is, Red cabbage, Turmeric and Coriander leaves
were irradiated by Cs-137 gamma source in the range of 0-100 kGy. The standard aqueous solutions were scanned
by UV/VIS spectrophotometer for the determination of maximum wave length (λmax) and the absorbance (A) of
irradiated samples was measured in UV region. The plot between concentrations (C) and absorbance (A) gave
approximate linear relationship and hence verified Beer’s Law. By comparing dosimetric characteristics of all
three natural dyes, red cabbage dye was found to be ideal among all. Dosimetric parameters such as effect of
concentration and pH values was also studied which proved that these dye solutions are strongly dependent on
dye concentration and pH value. Useful dose range for natural dyes to be used as a chemical dosimeter was found
to be 60 to 100 kGy.
