Novel rapid oxidizing fusion method to determine Polonium-210 in air filters

doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108833

Title: Novel rapid oxidizing fusion method to determine Polonium-210 in air filters

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Abstract

A rapid method for the determination of polonium-210 in air filters has been created for use following a radiological event and for routine environmental monitoring. Air filter samples, including cellulose and glass fiber, are fused with a sodium or potassium nitrate/sodium hydroxide flux material. The alkaline matrix minimizes polonium volatility during sample digestion steps, while efficiently dissolving the air filter and inorganic matter implanted on the filter. The addition of nitrate to the flux destroys organic material which can decrease Polonium recovery during precipitation, extraction and source preparation steps. Polonium is concentrated and separated from the sample matrix using an iron hydroxide precipitation and extraction chromatography with DGA Resin. Polonium-210 is subsequently measured by alpha spectrometry following rapid microprecipitation with bismuth phosphate. The new method employs extraction chromatographic purification to remove alpha emitting interferences and sample matrix constituents which can interfere with ²¹⁰Po measurements using alpha spectrometry. The novel blend of sodium hydroxide and alkali metal nitrate digests the air filters quickly and effectively.

Authors:

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

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

Publication Date:: 2019-08-08

Research Org.:: Savannah River National Lab (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States); Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)

OSTI Identifier:: 1602970

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1563049

Report Number(s):: SRNS-STI-2019-00469
Journal ID: ISSN 0969-8043

Grant/Contract Number:: AC09-08SR22470

Resource Type:: Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Applied Radiation and Isotopes

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 153; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0969-8043

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY

Citation Formats


                    Maxwell, Sherrod L., McAlister, Daniel R., and Sudowe, Ralf. Novel rapid oxidizing fusion method to determine Polonium-210 in air filters.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
        Web.  doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108833.

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                    Maxwell, Sherrod L., McAlister, Daniel R., & Sudowe, Ralf. Novel rapid oxidizing fusion method to determine Polonium-210 in air filters.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108833

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                    Maxwell, Sherrod L., McAlister, Daniel R., and Sudowe, Ralf. Thu .  
        "Novel rapid oxidizing fusion method to determine Polonium-210 in air filters".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108833.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1602970.

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@article{osti_1602970,

  title        = {Novel rapid oxidizing fusion method to determine Polonium-210 in air filters},

  author       = {Maxwell, Sherrod L. and McAlister, Daniel R. and Sudowe, Ralf},

  abstractNote = {A rapid method for the determination of polonium-210 in air filters has been created for use following a radiological event and for routine environmental monitoring. Air filter samples, including cellulose and glass fiber, are fused with a sodium or potassium nitrate/sodium hydroxide flux material. The alkaline matrix minimizes polonium volatility during sample digestion steps, while efficiently dissolving the air filter and inorganic matter implanted on the filter. The addition of nitrate to the flux destroys organic material which can decrease Polonium recovery during precipitation, extraction and source preparation steps. Polonium is concentrated and separated from the sample matrix using an iron hydroxide precipitation and extraction chromatography with DGA Resin. Polonium-210 is subsequently measured by alpha spectrometry following rapid microprecipitation with bismuth phosphate. The new method employs extraction chromatographic purification to remove alpha emitting interferences and sample matrix constituents which can interfere with 210Po measurements using alpha spectrometry. The novel blend of sodium hydroxide and alkali metal nitrate digests the air filters quickly and effectively.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108833},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1602970},
  journal      = {Applied Radiation and Isotopes},

  issn         = {0969-8043},

  number       = C,

  volume       = 153,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2019},

  month        = {8}

}

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108833

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