Measurement of attenuation cross-sections of some fatty acids in the energy range 122-1330 keV

The mass attenuation coefficients (mu(m)) have been measured for undecylic acid (C11H22O2), lauric acid (C12H24O2), tridecylic acid (C13H26O2), myristic acid (C14H28O2), pentadecylic acid (C15H30O2) and palmitic acid (C16H32O2) using Co-57, Ba-133, Cs-137, Co-60 and Na-22 emitted gamma radiation with energies 122, 356, 511, 662, 1170, 1275 and 1330 keV, respectively. The accurate values of the effective atomic number (Z(eff)), atomic cross-section (sigma(t),), electronic cross-section (sigma(e)) and the effective electron density (N-eff) have great significance in radiation protection and dosimetry. These quantities were obtained by utilizing experimentally measured values of mass attenuation coefficients (mu(m)). A NaI(Tl) scintillation detector with 8.2% (at 662 keV) resolution was used for detecting of attenuated gamma-photons. The variation in Z(eff) and N-eff of fatty acids with energy is discussed. The experimental and theoretical results are in good agreement within 2% deviation.