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A new method for determination of222Rn and220Rn in geothermal steam

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Abstract

The radionuclides222Rn and220Rn are measured by incorporating their daughters214Pb and212Pb in a very thin layer of PbS and accumulating the alpha spectrum of their daughter products214Po and212Po. The median yield was measured as 88% using a known amount of210Pb tracer. A single fumarole and all 23 geothermal wells tested were found to contain220Rn. As isotopes of Th, Bi, Po and Ra, are also absorbed in the PbS layer, the method can be used for determinations of these in tap-water.

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Whitehead, N.E., Ditchburn, R.G. A new method for determination of222Rn and220Rn in geothermal steam. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 207, 313–324 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02071237

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02071237

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