EFFECT OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON THERMOLUMINESCENCE VALUES IN DRIED FRUITS

Studies were conducted to measure the effect of irradiation treatment on thermoluminescence (TL) values in dried fruits such as apricots, da tes and raisins. For this purpose, inorganic dust particulate (mineral s) adhering to the fruit surface was collected from untreated and trea ted (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kGy) samples. The TL responses of the isolated m inerals was measured in the temperature range of 80-320 degrees C at a n increasing rate of 10 degrees C/s. It was observed that peak of the TL signals appeared at 200 degrees C in each case and generally the ma gnitude of the peak signals was almost 10(3) times that of unirradiate d samples. Regression and correlation analysis of the data indicated s trong relationship between radiation absorbed dose and TL values at ea ch temperature (r greater than or equal to 0.98). It was concluded tha t TL measurements could serve as a fast and reliable method for distin guishing as well as determining absorbed dose in irradiated dried apri cot, date and raisin.