Development of 'on-site' measurement methods for assay of plutonium isotopes.

Over the past decades, radioanalytical methods for environmental monitoring of plutonium (Pu) isotopes from contaminated soils were developed to respond in case of a nuclear accident but also for routine analyses. In this paper we prove the possibility of on-site analysis of plutonium using alpha particle spectrometry. Tests are performed with two types of soils: a "brown" soil and a "sandy" soil, both spiked with Pu.

On the sequential separation and quantification of Np, Am, thorium, plutonium, and uranium isotopes in environmental and urine samples.

The implementation of the one-pass-through separation technique using two stacked chromatography columns of TEVA - TRU resins for the separation of Np, Am, thorium, plutonium and uranium from environmental and urine samples was investigated. The sequential separation technique proved to be successful and gave similar results to those obtained when using individual separations. The analysis time was considerably improved.

Determination of 210Pb, 210Po, 226Ra, 228Ra and uranium isotopes in drinking water in order to comply with the requirements of the EU ‘Drinking Water Directive.

The European Union published in 2013 a new Drinking Water Directive with stricter requirements for measuring natural radioactivity. In order to adhere to this, a method for sequential separation of 210Pb, 210Po, 238U and 234U in drinking water was applied using UTEVA® and Sr resins. Polonium-210, 238U and 234U were quantified using alpha-particle spectrometry and 210Pb using liquid scintillation counting.

EURADOS intercomparison on emergency radiobioassay.

Nine laboratories participated in an intercomparison exercise organised by the European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) for emergency radiobioassay involving four high-risk radionuclides ((239)Pu, (241)Am, (90)Sr and (226)Ra). Diverse methods of analysis were used by the participating laboratories for the in vitro determination of each of the four radionuclides in urine samples. Almost all the methods used are sensitive enough to meet the requirements for emergency radiobioassay derived for this project in reference to the Clinical Decision Guide introduced by the NCRP.

A performance comparison of nine selected liquid scintillation cocktails.

Sample load capacity, sample compatibility, influence of sample load on (3)H/(14)C counting efficiency, background count rate, figure of merit, quench resistance, and sample stability for nine selected, commercially available, liquid scintillation cocktails are presented in this study. The cocktails tested are Ecoscint A, Insta-Gel Plus, OptiPhase Hisafe 3, OptiPhase Trisafe, Ready Gel, SafeScint 1:1, Ultima Gold, Ultima Gold LLT, and Ultima Gold XR. For the data acquisition a Packard TriCarb Model 1900CA and a Quantulus 1220 liquid scintillation counter is used.