Challenges in the radiochemical separation of marine samples from the Montebello Islands

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dc.contributor.authorThiruvoth, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorChild, DPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHarrison, JJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJohansen, MPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSilitonga, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorVardanega, CRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWilsher, KLen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWong, HKYen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2023-01-19T23:37:02Zen_AU
dc.date.available2023-01-19T23:37:02Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2018-11-06en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-06-30en_AU
dc.description.abstractThe Montebello Islands, located off the North Western coast of Western Australia, was used as a nuclear weapons test site by the British government in the 1950s. Three nuclear tests were conducted around the islands. The first in 1952 (W818) detonated in the hull of the HMS Plym anchored in 12 m of water between Alpha and Trimouille Islands, and the second and third tests (MOSAIC G1 and G2) were detonated on 30 m Aluminium towers in May and June 1956, G1 on the Northern Western tip of Trimouille island and G2, the largest test conducted in Australian territory, on Alpha island. The fallout from these tests deposited long-lived anthropogenic radionuclides on nearby islands and ocean surface, host to an array of animals and plants. Marine sand, marine sediment, algae, fish, turtles and turtle eggs, among others, were sampled from the surrounding zones for dose assessment studies, thirty-nine of which were processed for actinide and strontium analysis. Due to the expected presence of discrete radioactive particles in some matrices a three step digestion method was applied to obtain complete dissolution of sample material. To overcome sample heterogeneity, the digest solution was sub-sampled for actinide and Sr-90 analysis by alpha spectrometry and liquid scintillation analysis, for plutonium isotopic analysis by AMS, and for elemental analysis by ICPAES/MS. The radiochemical separation method developed at ANSTO for Am, Pu, Th, U, and Sr for terrestrial soils and sediments (Harrison et al, 2011) was adapted to samples from the marine environment. However, some sample matrices proved to be challenging in achieving acceptable chemical recoveries of strontium due to the high concentrations of native calcium. This current study will discuss the methods used, and challenges overcome, in radiochemical separation for alpha spectrometry and liquid scintillation analysis for a wide range of sample types.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationThiruvoth, S., Child, D. P., Harrison, J., Johansen, M. P., Silitonga, A., Vardanega, C., Wilsher, K., & Wong, H. K. (2018). Challenges in the radiochemical separation of marine samples from the Montebello Islands. Paper presented to the SPERA Conference 2018, "Bringing environmental radioactivity research to Western Australia", Perth, Western Australia, 6 - 9 November 2018, (pp. 51).en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate9 November 2018en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameSPERA Conference 2018, 'Bringing environmental radioactivity research to Western Australia'en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplacePerth, Western Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate6 November 2018en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination51en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/14435en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherSouth Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Associationen_AU
dc.subjectRadiochemistryen_AU
dc.subjectSeparation processesen_AU
dc.subjectAquatic ecosystemsen_AU
dc.subjectIslandsen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectNuclear test sitesen_AU
dc.subjectWeaponsen_AU
dc.subjectWestern Australiaen_AU
dc.subjectANSTOen_AU
dc.titleChallenges in the radiochemical separation of marine samples from the Montebello Islandsen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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