Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analytical method for the determination of gross beta, 90Sr, 226Ra and Pu isotopes in environmental samples

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study presents analytical methods for the determination of gross beta, 90Sr, 226Ra and Pu isotopes using samples in the IAEA-TEL-2015-04 ALMERA Proficiency Test exercise. Samples for gross beta were prepared by evaporation and then analyzed using a gas proportional counter. 90Sr in the liquid sample was concentrated as SrCO3 precipitates and purified by Sr resin. Pu isotopes and 90Sr in the soil sample were extracted from the sample by mineral acid leaching and separated using TEVA and Sr resin, respectively. Pu isotopes were determined by alpha spectrometry and 90Sr were determined with a liquid scintillation counter. Radium in the soil sample was extracted by LiBO2 fusion, and the radon-emanation method using LSC was applied for the determination of 226Ra.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Perelygin VP, Chuburkov YT (1997) Man-made plutonium in environment—possible serious hazard for living species. Radiat Meas 28(1–6):385–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Vajda N, Kim CK (2010) Determination of radiostrontium isotopes: a review of analytical methodology. Appl Radiat Isot 68(12):2306–2326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. UNSCEAR (2000) Sources and effects on ionizing radiation. United Nations, New York

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jia G, Torri G, Magro L (2009) Concentrations of 238U, 234U, 235U, 232Th, 230Th, 228Th, 226Ra, 228Ra, 224Ra, 210Po, 210Pb and 212Pb in drinking water in Italy: reconciling safety standards based on measurements of gross α and β. J Environ Radioact 100(11):941–949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Interlaboratory comparisons, IAEA. https://nucleus.iaea.org/rpst/ReferenceProducts/Proficiency_Tests/index.htm. Accessed 15 Sep 2016

  6. De Regge P, Radecki Z, Moreno J, Burns K, Kis-Benedek G, Bojanowski R (2000) The IAEA proficiency test on evaluation of methods for 90Sr measurement in a mineral matrix: preliminary evaluation of sources of bias and measurement uncertainties. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 246(3):511–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Shakhashiro A, Mabit L (2009) Results of an IAEA inter-comparison exercise to assess 137Cs and total 210Pb analytical performance in soil. Appl Radiat Isot 67(1):139–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Visetpotjanakit S, Kaewpaluek S, Udomsomporn S (2016) Participation in IAEA-TEL-201304/28 ALMERA proficiency test exercise on determination of anthropogenic radionuclides in water and flour samples. Appl Radiat Isot 109:78–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality. Switzerland, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  10. Qiao J, Hou X, Roos P, Miró M (2010) Rapid and simultaneous determination of neptunium and plutonium isotopes in environmental samples by extraction chromatography using sequential injection analysis and ICP-MS. J Anal At Spectrom 25(11):1769–1779

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim CS, Kim CK, Lee KJ (2004) Simultaneous analysis of 237Np and Pu isotopes in environmental samples by ICP-SF-MS coupled with automated sequential injection system. J Anal At Spectrom 19(6):743–750

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kim H, Jung Y, Ji Y-Y, Lim J-M, Chung KH, Kang MJ (2017) Validation of a procedure for the analysis of 226Ra in naturally occurring radioactive materials using a liquid scintillation counter. J Environ Radioact 166:188–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chung KH, Kim H, Lim JM, Ji YY, Choi GS, Kang MJ (2015) Rapid determination of radiostrontium in milk using automated radionuclides separator and liquid scintillation counter. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 304(1):293–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kim H, Chung KH, Jung Y, Jang M, Kang M, Choi GS (2015) A rapid and efficient automated method for the sequential separation of plutonium and radiostrontium in seawater. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 304(1):321–327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Burnett WC, Tai WC (1992) Determination of radium in natural waters by α liquid scintillation. Anal Chem 64(15):1691–1697

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kim H, Jung Y, Lee W, Choi G-S, Chung KH, Kang MJ (2016) Comparison of the quantulus 1220 and 300sl liquid scintillation counters for the analysis of 222Rn in groundwater. J Radiat Prot Res 41(4):395–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ko YG, Lim J-M, Choi G-S, Chung KH, Kang MJ (2015) Characterizations of electrodeposited uranium layer on stainless steel disc. Colloids Surf A 487:121–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. The Lund/LBNL Nuclear Data Serach. http://nucleardata.nuclear.lu.se/toi/. Accessed 10 Mar 2017

Download references

Acknowledgement

This work was performed under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) of Korea, NRF contact No. 2012M2A8A4025915. The authors are grateful to anonymous reviewers, whose ideas and comments have improved the original manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Radioactivity Assessment Team, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 989-111 Daedeok-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Korea

    Hyuncheol Kim, Jong-Myoung Lim, Kun Ho Chung & Wanno Lee

Authors
  1. Hyuncheol Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jong-Myoung Lim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kun Ho Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wanno Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hyuncheol Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kim, H., Lim, JM., Chung, K.H. et al. Analytical method for the determination of gross beta, 90Sr, 226Ra and Pu isotopes in environmental samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 312, 523–529 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5240-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5240-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation