Improving the recovery of polonium analysis in sediment samples by alpha particle spectrometry
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Date
2022-11-28
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Association
Abstract
At the ANSTO low level radioanalytical facility, sediment samples for lead-210 dating are analysed for
polonium-210 and radium-226 activities by alpha particle spectrometry. To improve the efficiency of sample digestion, a block digester was acquired for digesting sediment and other environmental samples. A new hot plate stirrer was also acquired and used in the isolation of polonium via autodeposition onto silvers disks. The change in the digestion and auto-deposition steps resulted in improved polonium recoveries from 50-60% to 80-90%. The ability to control the acid digestion temperature at 90°C and between 70°C to 80°C during autodeposition improved the polonium recoveries.
Description
Keywords
Polonium, ANSTO, Lead 210, Radium 226, Alpha spectroscopy, Sediments, Temperature range 0000-0013 K
Citation
Maizma, S., Zawadzki, A. (2022). Improving the recovery of polonium analysis in sediment samples by alpha particle spectrometry. Poster presented to SPERA 2022 - Connecting people, developing solutions for a changing environment, Christchurch, New Zealand, 28-30 November 2022. (pp. 51). Retrieved from: https://au-admin.eventscloud.com/file_uploads/baa6bb17538b457fbd436f1552075bea_SPERA2022e-handbook.pdf