Assessment of indoor radon concentration in phosphate fertilizer warehouses in Nigeria

Indoor radon concentration level was measured in twelve selected phosphate fertilizer warehouses in Nigeria in order to establish potential hazards to persons using such warehouses as offices.The fertilizer warehouses were selected based on the brand of fertilizers stored, size, ventilation pattern and the number of workers in the warehouses during working hours. Electret Ion Chamber Technology (EIC) with the trade name E-PERM^TM was employed for the measurement of radon concentration in the warehouses. Average radon concentration in the warehouses range between 33.6 Bq m⁻³ and 117 Bq m⁻³with an arithmetic mean of 91.62±5.9 Bq m⁻³.     

Levels and behavior of natural radioactivity in the vicinity of phosphate fertilizer plants

Phosphate rocks are used for phosphoric acid production, which is the basis of agricultural phosphate fertilizers. It is known that phosphate ores contain, due to geological reasons, important amounts of natural radioactivity, mainly U-isotopes and daughters. By studying a specific case in Southwestern Spain, it is shown that the operation of phosphate fertilizer factories clearly enhance the natural radiation levels of its close environment. Levels of U-, Th-isotopes, and other natural radionuclides are given for a wide set of different samples, which support such a conclusion. In addition, the study of isotopic ratios gives information on the environmental behavior of such radionuclides.     

Determination of phosphate in urine by sequential injection analysis

Two simple turbidimetric methods for the determination of phosphate in urine are presented and compared. One method is based on the calcium phosphate crystallisation, and the other one on the inhibitory action of phosphate on the calcium carbonate crystallisation. The analytical features of both methods were: linear range = 0.2-1.5 g L-1, LOD = 14 mg L-1 and RSD 1.1-2.0% for the calcium phosphate method, linear range = 0.1-1.8 mg L-1, LOD = 0.01 mg L-1 and RSD 0.97-1.90% for the inhibitory method. Urines with high calcium content (> or = 400 mg L-1) can interfere the method based on the crystallisation of calcium phosphate. This interference was solved using a cation exchange resin as a part of the manifold. Considering the low toxicity of used reagents, these methods can be considered as a contribution to Green Analytical Chemistry.     

Determination of uranium and radium in phosphate rock and technical phosphoric acid

Summary Uranium in phosphate rock can be determined radiometrically using gamma-counting and spectrophotometrically using arsenazo I. In the latter case the rock is dissolved in HNO₃, then uranium is extracted with tributyl phosphate, stripped with hot water and determined. For the determination of uranium in technical phosphoric acid, the fluorosilicate ion present as impurity must first be precipitated, the uranium separated on Amberlite IRA-400 in the sulfate form, then determined in the eluate spectrophotometrically by arsenazo I. Radium can be determined in leach solutions by the emanation method.

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Bestimmung von Uran und Radium in Phosphatgestein und technischer Phosphorsäure

Zusammenfassung Uran kann in Phosphatgestein radiometrisch mit -Zählung und spektralphotometrisch mit Arsenazo I bestimmt werden. Zur spektralphotometrischen Bestimmung wird die Probe in Salpetersäure gelöst, dann das Uran mit Tributylphosphat extrahiert, in heißes Wasser überführt und bestimmt. Zur Uranbestimmung in technischer Phosphorsäure muß zuerst das als Verunreinigung vorhandene Fluorosilicat gefällt und dann das Uran mit Hilfe von Amberlit IRA-400 in der Sulfatform abgetrennt werden, bevor es im Eluat mit Arsenazo I bestimmt werden kann. Radium kann in Auslaugungslösungen mit Hilfe der Emanationsmethode bestimmt werden.

     

Determination of uranium and thorium concentration in some Egyptian rock samples

Uranium (U) and thorium (Th) isotopes and their several radioactive descendants found in soil, rock, water, plants, air, etc., contribute to the natural radiation exposure of the population. Phosphate rocks are really rich natural sources of uranium and thorium among the other minerals forming the earth's crust. U and Th concentrations in some Egyptian phosphate samples were determined using a nuclear track registration methodology and -ray spectroscopy. The resulting latent tracks from all -decaying isotopes in both U and Th series were recorded in plastic detectors. A uniquely sensitive polycarbonate CR-39 nuclear detector was used. Results showed that the U and Th concentration in the samples studied range from about 4.0 up to 35.0 ppm and from 11.0 to 124.0 ppm, respectively. Results are discussed within the frame work of track formation methodology in plastic and -ray spectroscopic analysis.     

Determination of uranium in human urine by total reflection X-ray fluorescence

Uranium has been classified as a toxic chemical. It affects the kidneys, with nephritis being the primarily chemically-induced effect in animals and humans. Intermediate-term studies on animals indicate that increased uranium doses are positively correlated with various biochemical effects and histopathological changes. Since the kidneys efficiently excrete in urine the major portion of solubilized uranium circulating in blood, an increased urinary uranium excretion can provide a sensitive quantitative measure of exposure, especially in the case of acute exposure. In the present work a method was developed for the quantitative determination of uranium in human urine. It combines the chemical treatment of urine, which results in a significant pre-concentration of uranium, with its subsequent detection by means of total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF). The method has been proven to be relatively fast, offering detection limits that allow for monitoring uranium intake above normal levels.     

Determination of uranium isotopes in urine samples from radiation workers using 232U tracer, anion-exchange resin and alpha-spectrometry

Bioassay technique is used for the estimation of actinides present in the body based on the excretion rate of body fluids. For occupational radiation workers urine assay is the preferred method for monitoring of chronic internal exposure. Determination of low concentrations of actinides such as plutonium, americium and uranium at low level of mBq in urine by alpha-spectrometry requires pre-concentration of large volumes of urine. This paper deals with standardization of analytical method for the determination of U-isotopes in urine samples using anion-exchange resin and ²³²U tracer for radiochemical recovery. The method involves oxidation of urine followed by co-precipitation of uranium along with calcium phosphate. Separation of U was carried out by Amberlite, IRA-400, anion-exchange resin. U-fraction was electrodeposited and activity estimated using tracer recovery by alpha-spectrometer. Eight routine urine samples of radiation workers were analyzed and consistent radiochemical tracer recovery was obtained in the range of 51% to 67% with a mean and standard deviation of 60% and 5.4%, respectively.     

电化学发光法测定人尿中的磷酸苯丙哌林

基于磷酸苯丙哌林对联吡啶钌(Ru(bpy)32 )的电化学发光信号有较强的增敏作用,建立了一种检测磷酸苯丙哌林的电化学发光方法,并且应用于人尿中磷酸苯丙哌林的测定。结果表明,在0.02 mol/L Na2CO3-NaHCO3介质中,以方波为电解方式,联吡啶钌的质量浓度为1.0×10-5g/mL时,磷酸苯丙哌林对联吡啶钌电化学发光信号的增敏效果最好。在此条件下,测定磷酸苯丙哌林的线性范围为10~600 ng/mL,检出限为7.2 ng/mL,相对标准偏差RSD为1.6%(n=11,ρ=300 ng/mL)。     

Determination of low uranium concentration in carbonate-bicarbonate solutions by X-ray fluorescence

A method has been developed for the direct determination of uranium in carbonate solutions by X-ray fluorescence. Uranium, in the concentration range 0.2–50 ppm, is first absorbed as the carbonate complex on an anion exchange resin and then determined by X-ray fluorescence. A sensitivity corresponding to 20 ppb in 250 ml solution and a precision of ±6.5% was obtained. The sensitivity was 100-fold greater than that obtained by the direct determination in solution by X-ray fluorescence.     

Determination of hexavalent and tetravalent uranium in phosphate ores through hydrochloric acid selective leaching

The tetravalent and hexavalent uranium content of three Egyptian phosphate type ore samples namely; Sebayia, Abu Tartur and Qatrani have been studied through selective leaching by hydrochloric acid at normal, oxidized and reduced conditions at an amount of hydrochloric acid less than the stoichiometric value i.e. before phosphoric acid production. Oxidizing condition is attained by incorporating 2% of manganese dioxide in the leaching cycle, whereas reducing condition is attained by adding 2% iron powder. The achieved results show that the amount of tetravalent uranium varies between 5 and 95%. As soon as the achieved stoichiometric value of hydrochloric acid is sufficient to produce phosphoric acid both tetravalent and hexavalent uranium dissolve by virtue of phosphoric acid complexing power for uranium. The chemical form of uranium in the ore determines the type of solvent needed to recover it.     

Determination of uranium concentration in water by liquid anion exchange-delayed neutron analysis

Dissolved uranium is selectively removed from 11 of filtered, acidified water using a liquid anion exchange resin (Amberlite LA-1) dissolved in 10 ml of purified kerosene. The organic phase is then analyzed by a standard delayed neutron counting technique. Yields of removed uranium are consistently greater than 90 percent over a measured concentration range of 1.0 to 100 ppb uranium. The absolute detection limit based on 11 of water is 0.06 ppb. Elemental interferences are minimal and the results compare favorably with fluorometric analyses of natural waters.     

Determination of uranium concentration in domestic water samples by fission track method

The sensitive and simple fission track detection technique using a dry method with Melinex-0 plastic track detector has been applied for the determination of uranium concentration in samples of domestic water supply plants collected from different states of India, namely West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi. Our analyses show that uranium concentration of water samples collected from different types of domestic water supply plants vary from 0.6±0.02 to 19.2±0.6 g/l. The present investigations may be useful from the point of view of radiation hygiene.     

Determination of uranium by thermal and epithermal neutron activation in natural waters and in human urine

Uranium is determined via its ²³⁹U nuclide (74.0 keV, t_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} = 23.5 min) in natural waters down to 0.03 ng U ml^-1 after preconcentration with activated carbon and oxine; 30-min irradiation and counting times are used. No preconcentration is required for samples containing more than 4 ng U ml^-1 with 10-min irradiation and counting times. Uranium in urine can be determined under a boron shield at the 5 ng ml^-1 level after 30-min irradiation and counting.     

Determination of uranium and thorium in phosphate rocks by a combined ion-exchange — Spectrophotometric method

Summary Determination of Uranium and Thorium in Phosphate Rocks by a Combined Ion-Exchange — Spectrophotometric Method A selective anion-exchange separation and Spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of uranium and thorium in phosphate rocks. About 0.2 g of rock sample is decomposed with nitric acid. Uranium and thorium are adsorbed by anion-exchange on an Amberlite CG 400 (NO₃ ^–) column from the sample solution adjusted to 2.5M in magnesium nitrate and 0.1M in nitric acid. Uranium and thorium are eluted consecutively with 6.6M nitric acid and 0.1M nitric acid, respectively. Uranium and thorium in the respective effluents are determined spectrophotometrically with Arsenazo III. Results are quoted on uranium and thorium in NBS standard phosphate rock and others.     

Determination of uranium in uranium hexafluoride material

A rapid and precise method has been developed for the determination of uranium in uranium hexafluoride material that contains essentially no non-volatile impurities. Approximately 7 g of uranium hexafluoride is transferred into a tared fluorothene tube, weighed, frozen, and hydrolyzed in 150 ml of ice-cold water in a platinum dish. The solution is evaporated to dryness, and the residue is ignited to urano-uranic oxide and weighed. The precision of a single analysis at the 95% confidence interval is ± 0.06% of the value, with no significant bias     

Determination of uranium concentration in water samples by the fission track registration technique

The fission track registration technique using Makrofol KG as detector and the wet method was developed for the determination of microgram amounts of uranium in water samples. This method allows the determination of uranium concentrations within the interval of 8.0 to 0.4 μg. U/l, the overall ranging from 3.3% to 29.0%. Results obtained for water samples from several sources in the State of São Paulo, Brasil, are reported.     

Assessment of natural uranium and 226Ra concentration in ground water around the uranium mine at Narwapahar, Jharkhand, India and its radiological significance

A brief study on dissolved radionuclides in aquatic environment, especially in ground water, constitutes the key aspect for assessment and control of natural exposure. In the present study the distribution of natural uranium and ²²⁶Ra concentration were measured in ground water samples collected within a 10 km radius around the Narwapahar uranium mine in the Singhbhum thrust belt of Jharkhand, India in 2007–2008. The natural uranium content in the ground water samples in this region was found to vary from 0.1 to 3.75 μg L^?1 with an average of 0.87 ± 0.73 μg L^?1 and ²²⁶Ra concentration was found to vary from 5.2 to 38.1 mBq L^?1 with an average of 13.73 ± 7.34 mBq L^?1. The mean annual ingestion dose due to intake of natural uranium and ²²⁶Ra through drinking water pathway to male and female adults population was estimated to be 6.55 and 4.78 μSv y^?1, respectively, which constitutes merely a small fraction of the reference dose level of 100 μSv y^?1 as recommended by WHO.     

Determination of seven plant nutritional elements in potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer from northeastern China

Contents of seven plant nutritional elements in potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer were determined by ICP-MS. Correlation coefficients of the detected elements changed between 0.9631 and 0.9999, the limits of detection range from 0.18 to 0.77 μg/L, and relative standard deviations range from 1.17% to 3.82% for all the elements, ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry) is a good method to determine plant nutritional elements simultaneously. Data showed that brand 1 is a real KH₂PO₄ fertilizer, but P and K concentrations are obviously lower than the labeled value; another brand contained little KH₂PO₄, so this fertilizer is a false fertilizer. We can know that KH₂PO₄ fertilizers contain some other plant nutritional elements, such as B, Si and Zn, so KH₂PO₄ fertilizers not only provide K and P but also some trace elements.