Development of a rapid, economical and safe method, for the dissolution of particulate beryllium, for atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Analytical Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719108053034· OSTI ID:5151475

Miller, T J ^[1]

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1. Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire (United Kingdom)

Current methods, for the dissolution of particulate beryllium, on static, surface smear or personal air sampler (PAS) filter papers, have, as drawbacks, high acid emissions, the risk of acid burns to staff, the possibility of perchloric acid induced explosions and a high labor requirement, because they rely on digestion of samples by concentrated strong acids. An alternative method is presented, which overcomes these difficulties. The sample is boiled with a mixture of 2% nitric acid and 0.1% potassium bisulfate. The resulting solution may be determined for beryllium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry directly. The method has been validated by analyzing samples doped with up to 15 {mu}g of particulate beryllium in the particle size range 1-150 {mu}m.

• OSTI ID: 5151475
• Journal Information: Analytical Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Analytical Letters; (United States) Vol. 24:11; ISSN ANALB; ISSN 0003-2719
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AIR SAMPLERS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BERYLLIUM
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
METALS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
SAMPLERS
SIZE
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
SPECTROSCOPY