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Determination of 226Ra in environmental samples by alpha spectrometry: a new separation method based on the rapid co-precipitation of 226Ra with PbSO4

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Abstract

A new method to determine 226Ra by alpha spectrometry from various environmental samples was developed. After sample dissolution, Ra(II) was co-precipitated with PbSO4, and the precipitate was quickly filtered 1 min later. The rapid filtration of PbSO4 prevented CaSO4 and SrSO4 from precipitating. The Pb(Ra)SO4 precipitate was re-dissolved using an EDTA solution and the pH was adjusted to 5 with sulfuric acid. Then, a BaSO4 micro-precipitation was performed to prepare a Ra thin-layer source for measurement of 226Ra by alpha spectrometry. Excellent decontamination factors were obtained. The method was validated using spiked samples and certified reference materials.

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Funding

This work was supported by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited under the Canadian Federal Science and Technology program (project no. 51200.65.21.01.08).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Response and Analysis Branch, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, 286 Plant Road, Chalk River, ON, K0J 1J0, Canada

    Nicolas Guérin, Deborah Behm, John Leppinen & Alexandre Gagné

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  1. Nicolas Guérin
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  2. Deborah Behm
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  3. John Leppinen
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  4. Alexandre Gagné
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Correspondence to Nicolas Guérin.

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Guérin, N., Behm, D., Leppinen, J. et al. Determination of 226Ra in environmental samples by alpha spectrometry: a new separation method based on the rapid co-precipitation of 226Ra with PbSO4. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 4311–4323 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09130-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09130-w

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