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U.S. Department of Energy
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Measurement of total radium and radium-226 in environmental waters. A tentative reference method

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7330289

A tentative reference method for the measurement of total radium and /sup 226/Ra in environmental water sources is described. Samples are collected, preserved with acid-barium carrier treatment, and analyzed for total radium and/or /sup 226/Ra. For samples analyzed for total radium, the radium is separated from the sample with barium and lead carriers. The barium and radium are then separated from the lead carrier, precipitated as the sulfate, filtered, and counted for alpha activity. For samples analyzed for /sup 226/Ra, the radium is separated from the sample with barium carrier, dissolved and transferred to a de-emanation bubbler, the /sup 222/Rn daughter allowed to grow in, the ingrown /sup 222/Rn de-emanated from the solution and transferred to a scintillation counting cell, and alpha counted. Recoveries are determined from the added and found (recovered) barium carrier. Counting efficiencies are determined with prepared standard reference samples. Results are reported in pCi/liter. (GRA)

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nev. (USA). Environmental Monitoring and Support Lab.
OSTI ID:
7330289
Report Number(s):
PB-251313; EPA-600/4-76/012
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English