TITLE:
Measurements of Natural Radioactivity in Some Granite Samples Using Alpha Spectrometric Analysis
AUTHORS:
Hanan Mohamed Diab, Mohamed Helmy Eweis Monged, Mahmoud Khattab
KEYWORDS:
Uranium Separation; α-Spectrometry; Alpha Pulse Height Analysis Isotopic Ratio; Granite Samples
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.3 No.8,
December
20,
2013
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.