Determination of specific alpha-emitting radionuclides (uranium, plutonium, thorium and polonium) in water using [Ba+Fe]-coprecipitation method.

The indicative dose (ID) is one of the parameters established in the current European directive for water intended for human consumption. To determine the ID, it is necessary to know the activity concentration of: U, U, Ra, Po, Pu and Am. The existing methods to determine these radionuclides involve complex radiochemical separations (ionic exchange columns, extraction chromatography, etc.

Sample pretreatment in the determination of specific alpha emitters in drinking water using [Ba+Fe]-coprecipitation method.

The [Ba+Fe]-coprecipitation method is applied to measure gross alpha activity for radiological examination of drinking water in the laboratory. This method collects all the alpha-emitting radionuclides of interest (natural alpha emitters and transuranium elements) in a precipitate on a filter. This paper describes an investigation of sample pretreatment of the precipitate collected by the [Ba+Fe]-coprecipitation method for gross alpha activity determination.

Self-absorption correction for beta radioactivity measurements in water samples.

Two methods were used to apply self-absorption corrections for the determination of beta radioactivity in water samples (either for an identified radionuclide or for monitoring trends). One method was performed by estimating the absorption coefficient by assuming an exponential behaviour of absorption using external absorbers, while the other method was performed by preparing empirical curves using standards of different mass. In the first method, a relationship between absorption coefficient and maximum beta energy was also derived.