The use of cuprous iodide as a precipitation matrix in the radiochemical determination of 131I in milk.

Abstract

Abstract As a result of the implementation of the As Low As is Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) philosophy to the nuclear power industry, recent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements have prompted high sensitivity radiochemical analysis for the measurement of 131I in milk. The most recognized and commonly employed technique incorporates costly palladium iodide as the final precipitate in the radiochemical purification of the iodine chemical species. The procedure presented in this paper outlines the many advantages of using cuprous iodide as the final precipitate. These include lower cost per analysis, consistent recoveries, better precipitate matrix and good self absorption characteristics. Typical lower limit of detection values and operating characteristics obtained for high sensitivity (3-y analysis as well as gas proportional counting and a comparison of radiochemical and Ge(Li) spectrometric results for environmental samples collected during a recent Chinese weapons fallout incident are presented.