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Determination of uranium in calcareous rocks/minerals after separation by nitrilotriacetic-mediated sample dissolution and cation-exchange

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Abstract

Τhe determination of uranium in calcareous samples has been investigated by means of alpha-spectroscopy after dissolution of the samples by nitrilotriacetic solution (NTA) and uranium separation by cation-exchange. Method recovery, uranium analysis and isotopic ratio composition of the samples was performed using a standard tracer solution (U-232). Comparison of the data with corresponding data obtained from experiments after EDTA-dissolution indicated lower selectivity for uranium, but higher recovery yields for phosphate rock samples. Moreover, using NTA results in the co-extraction of radium and thorium isotopes which are present in the samples, assuming broader applicability of the present method.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Andria Michael & Ioannis Pashalidis

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  1. Andria Michael
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  2. Ioannis Pashalidis
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Correspondence to Ioannis Pashalidis.

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Michael, A., Pashalidis, I. Determination of uranium in calcareous rocks/minerals after separation by nitrilotriacetic-mediated sample dissolution and cation-exchange. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 1399–1403 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08643-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08643-0

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