Measurement of radionuclides using ion chromatography and flow-cell scintillation counting with pulse shape discrimination

Conference · Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:492376

DeVol, T A; Fjeld, R A; Roane, J E ^[1]; Leyba, J D ^[2]; Branton, S D ^[3]

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1. Clemson Univ., SC (United States). Dept. of Environmental Systems Engineering
2. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
3. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)

Principal conclusions are: CsI(Tl) provides sufficient pulse shape discrimination for use in the flow-cell detector. However, an improved method of coating is needed to extend the useful life of a detection cell. Of the activation/fission products investigated, only the co-elution of {sup 137}Cs and {sup 63}Ni produced a radiological interference. Tritium (and presumably other non-ionic radioisotopes) can be separated during the loading of the solution onto the pre- concentration column. Natural U (and/or decay products) produced a radiological interference with {sup 90}Sr. This is a potential problem. No potential radiological interferences were observed with {sup 223}Th. Chemical interferences were observed to some degree for all the chemicals tested except for the chloride solutions, NaCl and KCl, and the sulfate solution, Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4}. The specific interference effects were decreased detection efficiencies and changes in peak elution times. The NEL`s (non-observable effects loadings) are tentative targets for development of sample processing protocols, which is the next phase of the work.

• Research Organization: South Carolina Universities Research and Education Foundation, Clemson, SC (United States). Strom Thurman Inst.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AR21-95MC32110
• OSTI ID: 492376
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/32110-97/C0810; CONF-9610231-9; ON: DE97052250; TRN: 97:018329
• Resource Relation: Conference: Conference on industry partnerships to deploy environmental technology, Morgantown, WV (United States), 22-24 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
FISSION PRODUCTS
RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTILLATION COUNTING
ION EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY
ALPHA DECAY
BETA DECAY
ERRORS
INTERFERING ELEMENTS