International Journal of Medicine and Medical Science Research Vol. 1(4), pp. 037-042, October 2013 ISSN 2331-1819©2013 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative study on characteristics of natural dyes extracted from plants as high dose chemical dosimeters

Muhammad Attique Khan Shahid*, Arfa Mubashir, Bushra Bashir and Nayab Mansoor

Department of Physics, G.C. University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: profkhan786@yahoo.com

Accepted 25 September, 2013

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 (λ_max) 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.

Key words: Aqueous solutions, natural dye, chemical dosimetry, gamma irradiation, optical density (OD).