AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE 236U DETECTION LIMIT IN THE SURFACE AIR USING RADIOCHEMICAL SEPARATION AND ALPHA-SPECTROMETRY
Abstract
Due to nuclear weapon testing, nuclear reactor accidents, uranium mining and nuclear fuel reprocessing, additional uranium has been introduced into the environment. 236U isotope is produced from 235U by capture of a thermal neutron and it can be used as an indicator for artificial uranium in the environment. In this paper the sensitive method for236U determination in the surface air is described. This method includes a total dissolution of the air dust in a mixture of mineral acids, uranium concentration and purification by anion-exchange chromatography. Long time measurements of the separated uranium fraction are made with the use of alpha-spectrometer based on PIPS-detector. The lower limit of detection for 236U in the surface air is determined as 5 • 10-9 Bq/m3 (2 ng/m3).
About the Authors
A. D. Gedeonov
Research-Industrial Association V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, Saint-Petersburg
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
I. V. Kolchin
Research-Industrial Association V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, Saint-Petersburg
Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
A. K. Avenirov
Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
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Review
For citations:
Gedeonov A.D., Kolchin I.V., Avenirov A.K. AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE 236U DETECTION LIMIT IN THE SURFACE AIR USING RADIOCHEMICAL SEPARATION AND ALPHA-SPECTROMETRY. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2011;4(4):22-25. (In Russ.)
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