Fast,selective and sensitive methods for the determination of lead-210 in phosphogypsum and phosphate ore

Two methods are presented for a fast, accurate and precise determination of²¹⁰Pb in industrial samples with a calcium-phosphate and-sulphate matrix. One method combinessolid-liquid extraction on a Pb-selective column Sr^*Spec (Eichrom) with gamma-ray spectrometry of²¹⁰Pb and can be applied to samples >10 g for aselective²¹⁰Pb determination. The yield is determined gravimetrically. The detection limit is 380 mBq for a 24 h counting period. The other method combineschromatography on Sr^*Spec with liquid scintillation counting of²¹⁰Pb for asensitive²¹⁰Pb determination and can be applied to samples of up to 1 g. The yield is determined on-line by the UV signal of PbEDTA. The detection limit is 70 mBq for a 2 h counting period. Aspects of accuracy, precision, selectivity, sensitivity and the application of both methods to phosphogypsum and phosphate ores are presented.