A sequential method for the determination of 210Pb, 226Ra, and uranium and thorium radioisotopes by LSC and alpha-spectrometry

J C Lozano; F Vera Tomé; P Blanco Rodríguez; C Prieto

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.09.053

A sequential method for the determination of 210Pb, 226Ra, and uranium and thorium radioisotopes by LSC and alpha-spectrometry

Appl Radiat Isot. 2010 Apr-May;68(4-5):828-31. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.09.053. Epub 2009 Sep 23.

Authors

J C Lozano¹, F Vera Tomé, P Blanco Rodríguez, C Prieto

Affiliation

¹ Departamento de Fisica Fundamental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.

PMID: 19833528
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.09.053

Abstract

A procedure for the determination of (210)Pb, and alpha-emitting radioisotopes of uranium, thorium, and radium from the same aliquot of a sample has been proposed. The key step consisted in the recovery of Pb(II) and Ra by precipitation of insoluble Pb(NO(3))(2), the uranium and thorium radioisotopes remaining in solution. Afterwards, the fractions were handled by specific, well consolidated procedures. Lead-210 was determined by the LSC technique while the uranium, thorium, and radium radioisotopes were measured with silicon alpha-spectrometers. The procedure was applied to a reference sample and several environmental samples obtaining satisfactory results.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Algorithms*
Alpha Particles
Complex Mixtures / analysis*
Radiation Dosage
Radioisotopes / analysis*
Radiometry / methods*
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Spectrum Analysis / methods*

Substances

Complex Mixtures
Radioisotopes