Determination of 234U and 238U in seawater samples by alpha spectrometry after concentration of U(VI) onto hydrotalcite and co-precipitation with LaF3

2013 ◽  
Vol 101 (10) ◽  
pp. 621-624
Author(s):  
N. V. Suc ◽  
T. T. Bich
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Alpha Spectrometry ◽  
Separation Efficiency ◽  
Chemical Separation ◽  
Accurate Method ◽  
Uranium Isotopes ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Seawater Samples ◽  
Co Precipitation

Summary This paper presents a simple and accurate method for determination of uranium isotopes (234U and 238U) in seawater samples using alpha spectrometry. Uranium is pre-concentrated from seawater samples via adsorption on hydrotalcite at pH 6.5. The absorbent is dissolved into 50 ml of 8M HNO3; then filtered through a Dowex-1 column. U(VI) in the elution solution is reduced to U(IV) using zinc metal in 4M solution of HCl and then co-precipitated with LaF3. The chemical separation efficiency is found to be 97.12±2.68%, eliminating the need of using 232U tracer in other published methods. This method is validated via comparison with results obtained using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and neutron activation analysis (NAA) for three seawater samples.

Rapid Bioassay Methods for Actinides in Urine

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiongxin Dai ◽  
Sheila Kramer-Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Alpha Spectrometry ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Exposure Monitoring ◽  
Rapid Bioassay ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Ultra Trace ◽  
Co Precipitation ◽  
Radiation Exposure Monitoring

Rapid bioassay methods for the determination of actinides in urine samples at ultra-trace levels are needed for both emergency and routine radiation exposure monitoring. Several rapid actinide urinalysis methods have been recently developed at the AECL Chalk River Laboratories. These methods employ hydrous titanium oxide co-precipitation followed with actinide separation using chromatographic columns; the actinide isotopes are analyzed by alpha spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The chemical recoveries, procedural blanks, and achieved detection limits for these bioassay methods are also presented.

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