Preparation of radioactive core-shell type 198Au@SiO2 nanoparticles as a radiotracer for industrial process applications.

Silica-coated gold nanoparticles produced by gamma-ray irradiation were bombarded with neutrons in a nuclear reactor in order to activate gold nuclides into Au-198 emitting gamma radiation of 0.412-1.088 MeV. The particle size ranges from 20 to 200 nm. The physical integrity of the particles was examined by TEM before and after the neutron irradiation and the silica-gold particles were not affected in terms of structural appearance under gamma radiation environment. The gamma emitting NPs can be utilized as a tracer in petrochemical and refinery industrial processes where the internal temperature is extremely high and the conventional organic radioactive labeled compound would be decomposed.