(Validation of Radiochemical Separation for Uranium Assay in Different Matrices)

Abstract

Uranium is the fuel for about 1000 nuclear reactors of various kinds that exist in the world. These reactors produce electricity, uranium is discharged into the environment due to mining and different activities, Natural Uranium can be detected in low concentrations in nearly all matrices from the environment. It is necessary to determine not only the concentration of total Uranium but also the ratio of the different Uranium isotopes. Many radiochemical procedures for Uranium determination are described, but only few of them are suitable for different types of environmental samples to be measured by destructive assay. This can be achieved by alpha spectroscopy assay after chemical preparation. Accurate conclusions concerning the origin of Uranium can be drawn from their activity ratios. The aim of the present study is to provide a detailed description of the determination of U isotopes in di