Bioanalysis of uranium, plutonium, and curium on breathing zone air samples by solvent extraction and PERALS spectroscopy

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Radioactivity and Radiochemistry

OSTI ID:283323

Metzger, R L; Jessop, B H ^[1]; McDowell, B L ^[2]

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1. Radiation Safety Engineering, Inc., Chandler, AZ (United States)
2. ETRAC, Inc. Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Breathing zone air samples are commonly used to monitor airborne concentrate of radionuclides in ions the workplace and to assess the efficacy of respiratory protection programs. Radioactive isotopes of actinides have very low allowable airborne concentrations, so knowledge of the airborne activities of these nuclides is crucial. The air samples are typically analyzed for alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides by direct counting of the filters or by conventional separation chemistry and alpha-particle spectrometry. These techniques do not normally provide a sample turnaround that is sufficiently rapid to allow a change in the respiratory protection program, if necessary. In this work we have developed straightforward solvent extraction separation procedures that can rapidly phase transfer isotopes of uranium, plutonium, and americium or curium from a dissolved filter medium to an extractive scintillator for counting on a Photon/Electron-Rejecting Alpha Liquid Scintillation (PERALS{sup {reg_sign}}) Spectrometer. Results can normally be obtained within eight hours from the receipt of the air filter.

• OSTI ID: 283323
• Journal Information: Radioactivity and Radiochemistry, Journal Name: Radioactivity and Radiochemistry Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 6; ISSN 1045-845X; ISSN RARAE6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
ACTINIDES
AIR FILTERS
AIR SAMPLERS
AMERICIUM
CURIUM
LIQUID SCINTILLATORS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION MONITORING
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SPECTROMETERS
URANIUM