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Microwave assisted rapid and improved radiochemical method for the estimation of uranium in leaf samples

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Abstract

In this paper, we report the development of a rapid and improved radiochemical method assisted by microwave technique for the determination of uranium in leafy samples for use in radiological emergency situations, where quick assessment of radioactivity is required. About 200 g of fresh leaf sample was ashed in a microwave muffle furnace, followed by digestion in a microwave digester and radiochemically separated using UTEVA resin. Counting was performed in a passivated ion implanted planar silicon alpha spectrometer after electroplating the separated sample for uranium. By this method, the time of sample processing and analysis was reduced to few hours from about 2 days and also the radiochemical recovery of uranium has considerably enhanced as compared to conventional methods.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Pradeepkumar K S, Associate Director, HS&E Group for his kind support and encouragement for accomplishing this work. The authors would also like to thank Mrs. M. G. Nair for her support in the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Dosimetry Section, Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400094, India

    K. Prabhath Ravi, R. S. Sathyapriya & D. D. Rao

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  1. K. Prabhath Ravi
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  2. R. S. Sathyapriya
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  3. D. D. Rao
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Correspondence to K. Prabhath Ravi.

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Ravi, K.P., Sathyapriya, R.S. & Rao, D.D. Microwave assisted rapid and improved radiochemical method for the estimation of uranium in leaf samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 308, 317–322 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4588-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4588-1

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