Investigation of radioactive lead,uranium, and thorium in environmental waters by extraction chromatography resins |
| |
| Authors: | Zornitza Tosheva Antoine Kies Inna Taskaeva |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratoire Physique des Radiations , University of Luxembourg , 162 a Avenue de la Fa?encerie, L-1511 Luxembourg, Bulgaria zornitza.tosheva@uni.lu;3. Laboratoire Physique des Radiations , University of Luxembourg , 162 a Avenue de la Fa?encerie, L-1511 Luxembourg, Bulgaria;4. Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy , Tzarigradsko shaussee 72, Sofia 1784, Bulgaria |
| |
| Abstract: | A time-saving and sensitive method for monitoring low concentration (activities) of 210Pb, 232Th, and 230Th and 238U, 234U, and 235U in water samples has been developed. Through the combination of co-precipitation and extraction chromatography by 3M RAD disks and UTEVA (Eichrom) columns effective radiochemical separation of the analytes was carried out. Thorium and uranium activities were determined by alpha spectrometry and lead activity by LSC, respectively. The minimal detectable activities obtained were 0.6?Bq?m?3 for uranium, 0.29?Bq?m?3 for thorium, and 2.5?Bq?m?3 for 210Pb. More than 150 different waters were analysed for uranium content and only 30 for lead and thorium. The investigations are still in progress. |
| |
| Keywords: | Extraction chromatography Natural radioactivity Water |
|
|
