RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS FOR LONG-LIVED FISSION PRODUCTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS

Abstract

A method is described whereby radiochemical analysis for the long-lived fission products Ru106, Sr90, Cs137, and Ce144 may be performed on the same sample of soil, water, or biological material. Carriers are added and the material is fused at 550 °C. with KOH, KNO3, and K2CO3. Ruthenium and cesium are extracted with water, strontium and cerium remaining in the melt. Ruthenium is extracted into carbon tetrachloride as ruthenium tetroxide, cesium is absorbed on Duolite C-3 cation-exchange resin from alkaline solution, strontium and cerium are extracted from the melt with acid, cerium is precipitated as the hydroxide and strontium as the carbonate. The elements are precipitated, weighed, and counted according to standard procedures.