Measurements of Natural Radioactivity in Some Granite Samples Using Alpha Spectrometric Analysis

Hanan Mohamed Diab, Mohamed Helmy Eweis Monged, Mahmoud Khattab

Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority, Cairo, Egypt.
Nuclear Materials Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

DOI: 10.4236/ojapps.2013.38060                

Abstract

Alpha spectrometry using pulse height analysis has been used for the determination of uranium concentrations in different environmental samples. The concentration of ²³⁸U was measured by both destructive and non-destructive techniques with a detection limit of less than 1.8 mBq/kg. However, because of the extremely low ²³⁴U concentrations in environmental samples, it was necessary to use a destructive technique to separate U from the sample matrices as well as remove interfering elements from the sample solution to determine ²³⁸U/²³⁴U ratio. In this study, the uranium was separated from the environmental samples using anion exchangers in (Dowex 1 × 8 Cl^? form) and purified via co-precipitation with Lanthanum fluorides (LaF₃) and the alpha source prepared by electrodeposition. The results obtained were validated using some certified reference samples.

Keywords

Uranium Separation; α-Spectrometry; Alpha Pulse Height Analysis Isotopic Ratio; Granite Samples

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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