I need to perform a iron uptake assay, but my institute only have licence for iron-55 and not iron-59. Iron-55 emits X-ray but for iron uptake assays its not very helpful. Do anyone knows if it emits beta radiation and enables us to measure in a beta scintillator? Thanks so much!
Fe-55 is emitting Auger electrons with 5,19keV of energy while rearranging the atomic shell vacancy after K-electron pick up (electron capture) by the nucleus. Fortunately your beta scintillator is not able to distinguish between a beta particle and an Auger electron. But the electron energy may not be strong enough for your beta scintillator in order to stick out of the PMT's noise....
Mn K-alpha and K-beta x-rays will also show up.
For details please have a look at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron-55
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