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Publications
Supervising Scientist Report 180
P Martin & GJ Hancock, 2004
Department of the Environment and Heritage 2004
ISSN 1325-1554
ISBN 0 642 24386 7
A hard copy of the full report can be ordered from Publications, Supervising Scientist Division. A full list of SSD publications including prices is available on the publications page.
An order form can be downloaded and faxed or posted back. Alternatively, you can email your order to publications_ssd@environment.gov.au or phone +61 08 8920 1100.
The high sensitivity and wide range of applicable sample types make α-particle spectrometry a powerful technique for the determination of low-level activities in environmental samples. Radiochemical techniques are described here for the determination of the following α-emitting radionuclides:
234 U, 235 U and 238 U
228 Th, 230 Th and 232 Th
223 Ra, 224 Ra and 226 Ra, and
210 Po
together with a method for the determination of 210 Pb by ß counting. In addition, the ß-emitters 228 Ra, 210Pb and 227Ac can be determined within a few months of their separation from the sample digest by measurement of their α-emitting progeny.
After addition of a suitable tracer and dissolution of the sample, a chemical separation scheme is used which allows the sequential separation and analysis of radioisotopes of U, Th, Ra, Pb, Po and Ac on the same sample digest. This scheme has been developed with the aim of achieving consistent high chemical yields while minimising analysis time.
Sample pretreatment criteria, tracer isotope selection and spectrum analysis procedures for each element are discussed, and typical spectra shown. A set of computer programs used for the calculation of results are also described.
This report updates and replaces an earlier report on this topic (Martin & Hancock 1992, Research Report 7).
SSR180 was created in Ghostscript and converted into PDF. The PDF is not very easy to read on screen. The best result is obtained by saving the PDF (save file as target) to your computer and printing out. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view the PDF file.
If you are unable to access the report, please contact the Supervising Scientist Division (telephone 61 (0)8 8920 1100; email enquiries_ssd@environment.gov.au) to organise a suitable alternative format.
