Abstract
A method is described for the determination of228Th,230Th, and232Th in environmental samples from uranium mining and milling operations. The analytical procedure is based on the direct determination of228Th in the sample by high resolution γ-spectrometry followed by extraction and purification of the thorium fraction using high molecular weight amines and an anion-exchange technique, respectively, prior to α-spectrometry to determine isotopic ratios. The lowest level of detection for each thorium isotope is 0.01 pCi/g for solid samples and 20 pCi/l for aqueous samples. Replicate analyses of a typical mine waste stream gave a standard deviation of ±3% for228Th. Standard deviations of the230Th and232Th increased to ±11% apparently due to traces of210Po interfering in the α-spectrometry.
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