The determination of radium-226 in human bone

A simple procedure is described for preparing 10-g samples of bone ash for measurement of ²²⁶Ra by the ²²²Rn emanation technique. In this case, the radon is measured in 2-litre ion chambers, but scintillation chambers could be used. Coprecipitation of ²²⁶Ra with BaSO₄ gives separation from bulk constituents, and the final precipitate is soluble in a few ml of 30% EDTA. Chemical recovery is measured with ¹³³Ba tracer.     

The determination of radium-226 and radium-228 in soils and plants,using radium-225 as a yield tracer

Recovery of²²⁶Ra in analysis is determined using²²⁵Ra separated by anion exchange from²²⁹Th and²³³U. Radium is coprecipitated with barium, and purified by ion exchange.²²⁶Ra and²¹⁷At (decay product of²²⁵Ra) are measured by α-spectrometry.²²⁸Ra is determined both by β-counting²²⁸Ac and²²⁵Ac separated from²²⁸Ra and²²⁵Ra, and by α-counting its daughters after the decay of²²⁵Ra. Sources for α-spectrometry are prepared by electrodeposition (molecular plating).     

Activity concentration of radium-226 in agricultural soils

Both Indian mustard and sunflower were grown in a hydroponic solution treated with different concentration activities of ¹³⁴Cs or with different amounts of copper or with both in order to investigate the interaction between copper and radiocesium. It was found that ¹³⁴Cs activity concentration applied in the nutrient solution exerted more influence on the uptake and translocation of copper by Indian mustard than by sunflower. Indian mustard grown in hydroponic solution containing certain levels of copper and being treated with higher ¹³⁴Cs activity concentration showed higher uptake of copper than sunflower. However, in the case of root copper concentrations, sunflower showed significantly higher copper immobilization by roots than Indian mustard. It was also found that the presence of copper in the hydroponic solution did modify radiocesium uptake by both species. The application of 1 mg/l in the growth medium could greatly increase the uptake of ¹³⁴Cs by both species. With 3 mg/l concentration of copper amended to the solution, the accumulation of ¹³⁴Cs by both species was decreased compared to the 1 mg/l copper treatment. These lines of evidence show that there is stronger interaction between copper and radiocesium in Indian mustard than in sunflower during the root uptake through nutrient solution.     

Dose rate associated with activity of radium-226 in Canadian soils

Background levels of²²⁶Ra on non-cultivated soils in Canada (in southern and northern Quebec and in the North-West Territories) are presented. The activity of²²⁶Ra was measured at 34 sites. The specific activity levels ranged from 4.4 to 56.4 Bq/kg with an overall mean of 19.1±12.8 Bq/kg. This activity generates an annual absorbed dose in air of 0.07 mGy. The activities were found to be approximately lognormally distributed with the median activity equal to 15.4 Bq/kg. The activity of²²⁶Ra in the soil does not change with the depth. There is a significant difference between Ra concentrations in soils in all three regions studied.     

Nonconventional methods for accurately calibrating germanium detectors

We have developed two nonconventional but complementary methods whereby the detector efficiency of a coaxial germanium detector can be determined within an accuracy of a few percent for the energy region from 0.05 to 4.0 MeV without using conventional radioactive standards.     

Application of magnetic nanoparticles for the extraction of radium-226 from water samples

Bare (unmodified) and crown ether (CE)-modified Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were investigated for the rapid extraction of ²²⁶Ra from water samples. It involved synthesizing the MNPs, introducing them into the sample solutions, ultrasonicating and agitating the suspension, magnetically separating the nanoparticles from solution, and measuring the ²²⁶Ra content in the supernatant. Experimental parameters such as salt choice, salt concentration and pH were optimized to achieve maximum extraction of ²²⁶Ra onto the MNPs. ²²⁶Ra content was determined using a Hidex 300SL liquid scintillation counter with α/β separation capability, or a gamma spectrometric detection system. The bare Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles showed significant pH dependence for the extraction of ²²⁶Ra from an aqueous solution over a pH range of 2–10. They gave an extraction of 95 ± 1 and 98 ± 1 % at pH 9 in 0.1 M NaCl and 0.1 M NaClO₄, respectively, whereas an extraction of 8–24 % was obtained, over the pH ranges from 2 to 5. The CE-modified MNPs yielded extraction efficiencies as high as 99 ± 1 % in the presence of 0.01 M picric acid at pH 4. This study demonstrates that the surface functionalization of Fe₃O₄ MNPs with suitable ligand modification can offer a selective mode of extraction for ²²⁶Ra in the presence of its daughter progenies.     

Nondestructive determination of lead-210 and radium-226 in sediments by direct photon analysis

A method is described for the non-destructive determination of²¹⁰Pb and²²⁶Ra in sediments. The procedure is based on the direct counting of the 46.5-keV -ray of²¹⁰Pb and the 351.9-keV -emission of²¹⁴Pb. The self-absorption of the 46.5-KeV -ray is corrected using a technique involving direct gamma transmission measurements on sample and efficiency calibration standard. Several reference materials when assayed by the described method yielded results in general agreement with the certified values. The application of the method is illustrated through the analysis of the excess²¹⁰Pb profile of a Lake Ontario sediment core.     

Scintillation emanometric determination of radium-226 in waters using a new method of radium preconcentration

A modified method of scintillation emanometry for radium determination is described which uses a simple and effective preconcentration of dissolved radium by coprecipitation with a ternary complex of calcium phosphomolybdate and polyethylene glycol. After dissolution of the voluminous precipitate in an alkaline solution of ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid and deemanation of radon by a simplified procedure, the activity of radon is measured in a scintillation cell. The accuracy and precision of the method are very good as shown by determination of radium-226 in standard solutions and in natural water samples distributed by IAEA in the frame of interlaboratory comparison program. Easy construction of a simple scintillation cell is described, yielding cells with reproducible parameters and sufficient sensitivity for radium analysis in natural waters.     

Ultratrace-level radium-226 determination in seawater samples by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An improved and novel sample preparation method for ²²⁶Ra determination in liquid samples by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry using laboratory-prepared ²²⁸Ra tracer has been developed. The procedure involves a selective preconcentration achieved by applying laboratory-prepared MnO₂ resin followed by cation exchange chromatographic separation. In order to completely eliminate possible molecular interferences, medium mass resolution (R = 4,000) combined with chemical separation was found to be a good compromise that enhanced the reliability of the method. The detection limit of 0.084 fg g⁻¹ (3.1 mBq kg⁻¹) achieved is comparable to that of the emanation method or alpha spectrometry and is suitable for low-level environmental measurements. The chemical recovery of the sample preparation method ranged from 72 to 94%. The proposed method enables a rapid, accurate and less labor-intensive approach to routine environmental ²²⁶Ra determination than the radioanalytical techniques conventionally applied.     

An assessment of the selection criteria for an analytical method for radium-226 in environmental samples

This paper examines the process of making a decision on the optimum technique for the measurement of low concentrations of²²⁶Ra in environmental materials. The available counting techniques are alpha spectrometry, high resolution gamma spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting. The properties of the analytical technique; sensitivity, lower limit of detection (LLD) and precision are considered. Method selection is also restricted by the available sample size and activity. The influence of procedure backgrounds, geometric efficiency, chemical recovery, counting time, sample size and activity on the precision and LLD are investigated. The process of method selection, applicable to a wide range of samples, is illustrated by reference to sediments, waters and tissues.     

Separation and determination of uranium and radium-226 in phosphorites and their industrial derivatives by extraction chromatography

An extraction chromatographic method based on microporous polyethylene (Microthene) supporting tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) was used to separate uranium and²²⁶Ra from phosphorites and their industrial derivatives. Uranium was then determined by fluorimetry and by alpha-spectrometry after electroplating, and radium by precipitation as Ba(Ra)SO₄ and alpha counting with a ZnS(Ag) alpha detector. The method was checked by using an IAEA phosphorite sample having a certified uranium concentration. Some phosphorite, phosphoric acid and plaster samples supplied by an Italian industrial plant were analyzed; uranium isotopes always resulted in radioactive secular equilibrium.     

The routine use of selective gas chromatographic detectors

Summary The availability of gas chromatographic detectors selective for phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen and halogens and the possibility of their simultaneous operation with each other or with conventional universal detectors has tremendously increased the amount of qualitative information that can be gathered from an unknown sample. Selective detectors when used simultaneously permit the calculation of percentage ratios of heteroatoms which represent additional information for qualitative identification. Combination of parallel columns with selective detectors reduces the total time needed for analysis and introduces additional information due to the different polarity of the columns.     

Preparation and analysis of <Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra-<Superscript>222</Superscript>Rn emanation standards for calibrating passive radon detectors

Summary In order to calibrate vials containing charcoal for measurement of radon, emanation sources of radon were produced in-house using ²²⁶Ra salts. Calibrated emanation standards containing solution of ²²⁶Ra(NO₃)₂ absorbed into inorganic compounds were prepared. The emanation coefficient of ²²²Rn for these standards vary from 0.23-0.25. The emanation sources were found to be suitable for calibrating radon monitors.     

Metastable ions of methane and their use in calibrating a low mass scale

The decomposition of metastable positive ions of methane formed by electron bombardment is discussed. Some new collision-induced decompositions involving the formation of H⁺, H₂⁺˙ and H₃⁺ have been found in the ion kinetic energy spectrum as well as in the mass spectrum of methane. In the latter case, the ‘metastable peaks’ occur below mass 1 on the mass scale and can be used for mass calibration in this region of the mass spectrum.     

Investigation of two multichannel image detectors for use in spectroelectrochemistry

Two multichannel image detectors, a vidicon and a silicon photodiode array, were investigated for their performance as detectors in ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroelectrochemical experiments. Their spectral band-pass, dispersion, dynamic range, and precision of absorbance measurements were compared. o-Tolidine was used as a model compound to study their performance in a spectro-potentiostatic experiment using an optically transparent thin-layer electrode. Both detectors performed well, but the silicon photodiode array had twice the spectral resolution and dynamic absorbance range of the vidicon detector.     

Some comments on the use of nitrogen selective detectors

Summary Several detectors which have a selective response toward nitrogen containing compounds are discussed. Data on sensitivities, detection limits and reproducibility of response are given. The application of chemiluminescence to provide a nitrogen selective GC detector is proposed.     

Electrochemical detectors in flowing liquid systems: an assessment of their use

Electrochemical detection in flowing liquid systems such as liquid chromatography and autoanalyzers has attracted considerable interest in recent years. Electrochemical detectors are particularly suited to such systems because of their selectivity and sensitivity and their linear response over a wide concentration range.     

The scientific foundation and efficacy of the use of canines as chemical detectors for explosives

This article reviews the use of dogs as chemical detectors, and the scientific foundation and available information on the reliability of explosive detector dogs, including a comparison with analytical instrumental techniques. Compositions of common military and industrial explosives are described, including relative vapor pressures of common explosives and constituent odor signature chemicals. Examples of active volatile odor signature chemicals from parent explosive chemicals are discussed as well as the need for additional studies. The specific example of odor chemicals from the high explosive composition C-4 studied by solid phase microextraction indicates that the volatile odor chemicals 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and cyclohexanone are available in the headspace; whereas, the active chemical cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX) is not. A detailed comparison between instrumental detection methods and detector dogs shows aspects for which instrumental methods have advantages, a comparable number of aspects for which detector dogs have advantages, as well as additional aspects where there are no clear advantages. Overall, detector dogs still represent the fastest, most versatile, reliable real-time explosive detection device available. Instrumental methods, while they continue to improve, generally suffer from a lack of efficient sampling systems, selectivity problems in the presence of interfering odor chemicals and limited mobility/tracking ability.     

The226Ra/Ba-ratio as indicator for phosphogypsum contributions to226Ra levels in sediments

Phosphogypsum discharges by phosphate-ore processing industries pollute sediments of the Rotterdam harbour area with²²⁶Ra. Direct measurement of this radionuclide in sediments does not provide a reliable indication of the elevation of the levels, since²²⁶Ra levels in sediments depend on the particle size. To eliminate the size effect, the²²⁶Ra/Ba ratio in sediments was tested as a possible indicator for the²²⁶Ra in the discharges. The results indicate almost a doubling of the²²⁶Ra levels in sediment samples due to phosphogypsum discharges. The contribution of phosphogypsum to the sediment mass was calculated in the order of a few percent equivalent.