Rapid method to determine Polonium-210 in urban matrices

Journal Article · Sat Mar 16 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Applied Radiation and Isotopes

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.03.018· OSTI ID:1570344

Maxwell, Sherrod L. ^[1]; McAlister, Daniel R. ^[2]; Sudowe, Ralf ^[3]

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1. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
2. Eichrom Technologies, LLC, Lisle, IL (United States)
3. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)

A rapid technique for the determination of polonium-210 in urban matrices has been developed that can be used following a radiological event. Samples such as concrete, soil and granite are fused with sodium hydroxide to minimize polonium volatility during sample digestion and to achieve complete sample dissolution. Complete dissolution of samples is vital to ensure method ruggedness. Polonium is concentrated and separated from the sample matrix using an iron hydroxide precipitation and extraction chromatography and subsequently measured by alpha spectrometry following microprecipitation with bismuth phosphate. The chromatographic separation removes alpha emitting interferences and matrix constituents which can adversely impact the measurement via alpha spectrometry.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1570344
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 22846907
• Report Number(s): SRNS-STI--2019-00169
• Journal Information: Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Journal Name: Applied Radiation and Isotopes Journal Issue: C Vol. 148; ISSN 0969-8043
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Emergency
Fusion
Polonium
Rapid method
Urban matrices