A METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF CAESIUM-137 IN SEA WATER

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Health Physics (England)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-196308000-00007· OSTI ID:4659801

Morgan, A; Arkell, G M

A method has been developed for the determination of Cs/sup 137/ in sea- water. The acidified sample, containing added ammonium nitrate and cesium carrier, is passed through a column containing ammonium 12-molybdophosphate (ANP) mixed with an equal weight of asbestos to give adequate porosity. The cesium is retained quantitatively on the AMP (which acts as a selective cation exchanger) together with a small fraction of the natural rubidium and potassium present in the original sample. After treatment to separate the rubidium and potassium (both of which contain natural beta-emitting nuclides) the Cs/sup 137/ is counted. The principal advantage of this method is the high radiochemical purity of the separated Cs/sup 137/ which may be assayed by beta counting. With the use of low- background beta counters, levels of approximately 0.1 pc/l may be determined on a 25-l sea-water sample with a 95 per cent confidence limit of plus or minus 0.015 pC/l. The results of measurements on sea-water samples collected from the North Atlantic and coastal waters round the British Isles during 1961 and 1962 are reported. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-037156
• OSTI ID: 4659801
• Journal Information: Health Physics (England), Journal Name: Health Physics (England) Vol. Vol: 9; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADSORPTION
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ASBESTOS
BETA DETECTION
CARRIERS
CESIUM 137
CHEMISTRY
MIXING
MOLYBDENUM PHOSPHATES
NITRATES
POROSITY
POTASSIUM
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RUBIDIUM
SEA
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TABLES
WATER