Determination of lead-210 in standard samples of soil, ores, and mill tailings

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Anal. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00155a009· OSTI ID:5572941

Sill, C W

Up to 5-G samples were dissolved in hyrofluoric acid and pyrosulfate fusion in the presence of bismuth tracer. The cake was dissolved in hydrochloric acid and bismuth-210 was extracted into diethyldithiocarbamate, separating it from most interferences including its lead-210 parent. Bismuth was then coprecipitated with barium sulfate and counted in a low-background ..beta.. counter through a 6 mg/cm/sup 2/ aluminum absorber to remove ..cap alpha.. particles from polonium-210. After the sample was counted, the barium sulfate was dissolved in alkaline ehtylenediaminetetraacetic acid, excess potassium iodide was added, and the solution was acidified. The yellow bismuth-iodide complex was measured in a spectrophotometer and the absorbance was compared with that from an identical aliquot of the bismuth solution to determine the chemical yield. Some results obtained in the analysis of soil, uranium ores, and mill tailings that were prepared for use as standards are given. When sufficient activity was present, the relative experimental standard deviations of 10 individual measurements about their own mean was less than 2%. On standards, the results obtained were within 3% of the known values at the 95% confidence level. Chemical yields were generally higher than 98% overall and were determined to better than 0.5%. Detection limits are about 0.1 pCi/g for 5-g samples and 6-h counts.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Idaho Falls
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5572941
• Journal Information: Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 60:4; ISSN ANCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102* -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
400105 -- Separation Procedures
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPRECIPITATION
DATA
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXTRACTION
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
MILL TAILINGS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ORES
PRECIPITATION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
SOLID WASTES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SPECTROSCOPY
TAILINGS
TRACE AMOUNTS
URANIUM ORES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES