Quantitative Radiochemical Procedure for Analysis of Polonium-210 and Lead-212 in Minerals

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Analytical Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac60201a031· OSTI ID:4661102

Millard, H. T.

A method for the analysis of polonium-210 (138.4-day half life) and lead- 212 (10.6-hour half life) in zircons and other natural systems was developed. The procedure employs spontaneous electrodeposition on silver for the isolation of polonium-210 and controlled-potential electrogravimetric separation of lead- 212 plus added lead carrier. A diethyidithiocarbamate extraction procedure for the lead was developed to be used prior to piating in the presence of ions which precipitate at the pH used for lead deposition. The amounts of the deposited nuclides are then determined by alpha counting. The effects of temperature, volume, and inhibiting ions on the yield and rate of deposition of polonium were also studied. The procedure was calibrated using minerals whose lead-210 and thorium-232 contents had been determined by other methods; it was tested on a composite uraninite-thorite mixture. Finally, it was applied in the analysis of four zircon samples and one uranothorite sample.

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-027252
• OSTI ID: 4661102
• Journal Information: Analytical Chemistry, Journal Name: Analytical Chemistry Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 35; ISSN 0003-2700
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
ACIDITY
ALPHA DETECTION
CARBAMATES
CARRIERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ETHYL RADICALS
IMPURITIES
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
LEAD 210
LEAD 212
MINERALS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
POLONIUM 210
PRECIPITATION
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIOCHEMISTRY
SILVER
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
STANDARDS
TEMPERATURE
THORIUM 232
URANINITES
VOLUME
ZIRCON
ZIRCONIUM SILICATES