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Simultaneous determination of trace uranium and thorium by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

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Abstract

A method for the simultaneous, radiochemical neutron activation analysis of uranium and thorium at trace levels in biological materials is described, based on a technique known as LICSIR, in which a double neutron irradiation is employed. In the first, long irradiation233Pa (27.0 d) is induced by neutron capture on232Th and then the sample is cooled for several weeks. A second short irradiation to induce239U (23.5 m) is followed by a rapid sequential radiochemical separation by solvent extraction of239U with TBP and233Pa with TOPO. Chemical yields of239U and233Pa were measured for each sample aliquot using added235U and231Pa tracers from the γ-spectra of the separated fractions. The technique was validated by quality control analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Jožef Stefan” Institute, University of Ljubljana, Jamova 39, P.O. 100, SLO-61111, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    L. Benedik & A. R. Byrne

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  1. L. Benedik
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  2. A. R. Byrne
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Benedik, L., Byrne, A.R. Simultaneous determination of trace uranium and thorium by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 189, 325–331 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042612

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042612

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