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Development of an automated method for determination of thorium in soil samples and aerosols

Abstract

Methodology for determining trace thorium levels in a variety of sample types was further developed. Thorium in filtered water samples is concentrated by ferric hydroxide precipitation followed by dissolution and co-precipitation with lanthanum fluoride. Aerosols on glass fibre, cellulose ester, or teflon filters and solid soil and sediment samples are acid digested. Subsequently thorium is concentrated by lanthanum fluoride co-precipitation. Chemical separation and measurement is then done on a Technicon AA11-C autoanalyzer, using solvent extraction into thenoyltrifuoroacetone in kerosene followed by back extraction into 2 N{sub H}NO{sub 3}, and colourometric measurement of the thorium arsenazo III complex. Chemical yields are determined by the addition of thorium-234 tracer using gamma-ray spectrometry. The sensitivities of the methods for water, aerosol and solid samples are approximately 1.0 {mu}g/L, 0.5 {mu}g/g and 1.0 {mu}g/g respectively. At thorium levels about ten times the detection limit, accuracy is estimated to be {+-} 10% for liquids and aerosols and {+-} 15% for solid samples, and precision {+-} 5% for all samples.
Authors:
Stuart, J E; Robertson, R [1] 
  1. Becquerel Laboratories Inc. (Canada)
Publication Date:
Sep 01, 1986
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
INFO-0211
Reference Number:
SCA: 400102; PA: AIX-23:033723; SN: 92000724553
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Sep 1986
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; THORIUM; QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY; AEROSOLS; IRON HYDROXIDES; LANTHANUM FLUORIDES; PRECIPITATION; SOILS; SOLVENT EXTRACTION; TRACER TECHNIQUES; WATER; 400102; CHEMICAL AND SPECTRAL PROCEDURES
OSTI ID:
10140424
Research Organizations:
Atomic Energy Control Board, Ottawa, ON (Canada)
Country of Origin:
Canada
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE92625302; TRN: CA9200198033723
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
28 p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 05, 2005

Citation Formats

Stuart, J E, and Robertson, R. Development of an automated method for determination of thorium in soil samples and aerosols. Canada: N. p., 1986. Web.
Stuart, J E, & Robertson, R. Development of an automated method for determination of thorium in soil samples and aerosols. Canada.
Stuart, J E, and Robertson, R. 1986. "Development of an automated method for determination of thorium in soil samples and aerosols." Canada.
@misc{etde_10140424,
title = {Development of an automated method for determination of thorium in soil samples and aerosols}
author = {Stuart, J E, and Robertson, R}
abstractNote = {Methodology for determining trace thorium levels in a variety of sample types was further developed. Thorium in filtered water samples is concentrated by ferric hydroxide precipitation followed by dissolution and co-precipitation with lanthanum fluoride. Aerosols on glass fibre, cellulose ester, or teflon filters and solid soil and sediment samples are acid digested. Subsequently thorium is concentrated by lanthanum fluoride co-precipitation. Chemical separation and measurement is then done on a Technicon AA11-C autoanalyzer, using solvent extraction into thenoyltrifuoroacetone in kerosene followed by back extraction into 2 N{sub H}NO{sub 3}, and colourometric measurement of the thorium arsenazo III complex. Chemical yields are determined by the addition of thorium-234 tracer using gamma-ray spectrometry. The sensitivities of the methods for water, aerosol and solid samples are approximately 1.0 {mu}g/L, 0.5 {mu}g/g and 1.0 {mu}g/g respectively. At thorium levels about ten times the detection limit, accuracy is estimated to be {+-} 10% for liquids and aerosols and {+-} 15% for solid samples, and precision {+-} 5% for all samples.}
place = {Canada}
year = {1986}
month = {Sep}
}