By:Iraj Bayat, Ph.D. Faculty Member, Retired from Iran Atomic Energy Organization Seyed Hossein Omidiani, Ph.D., Associate member of Physics Association and Solar Energy  Association of Iran

Abstract:
To study the behavior in environment and to measure plutonium in the sediment of sea, a quick sensitive analytical method is required, can be applied to all sample materials found in the environment. Of the method, published only few reach the detection limits required for the application to all material and with those methods expenditure in time is either to high or applicability to all materials found in the environment is not ensured.
A boiling out method using HNo¬3¬ was found to be successful for a soil contaminated with fall out plutonium.

Abstract:


To study the behavior in environment and to measure plutonium in the sediment of sea, a quick sensitive analytical method is required, can be applied to all sample materials found in the environment. Of the method, published only few reach the detection limits required for the application to all material and with those methods expenditure in time is either to high or applicability to all materials found in the environment is not ensured.

A boiling out method using HNo­3­ was found to be successful for a soil contaminated with fall out plutonium.

Use of HNo3 for boiling out plutonium from sediment samples having the properties of Iron exchange or with a content of plutonium coprecipitating substances has show that although the chemical yield is slighty roduce. The plutonium contamination can be exactly determined from 500 ml of leaching solution the portion of dissolved matrix element is seperated practically in quntitative term by extraction with trioctyl-phsphonic oxide (TOPO). Back extraction tabes place with a scorbic acid/Hcl. The methods of radiochemical cleaning for separation of disturbing a-emiters and residues of the matrix consist of LaF3 coprecipitation and Ionig exchang. Amng three electroplatation techniques Investigation of preparing a-spectrometry atechniques based (NH4)2 C2o4 was found to be optimum.

An analytical method was worked out for plutonium, which can be applied to all materials found in environment.

The sample size is 100gr but it migt also bemuch greater. The average chemical yield is 70 and 80%. Thedetection limit for sample 0/1 fci/g. The analytical procedure was applied to a large number of environmental samples and the results analysis are indicated with standard.

 

Kay Word: Plutonium, Radioactivity, Alpha spectrum, Environment, Sediment.

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