Determination of radium-226 in ores, nuclear wastes and environmental samples by high-resolution alpha spectrometry

The determination of radium-226 by alpha spectrometry has been investigated critically to determine the exact experimental conditions necessary to achieve these objectives. Refractory solids such as soils, ores, and tailing from uranium mills are dissolved completely by fusion with potassium fluoride in the presence of barium-133 tracer. The fluoride cake is then transposed with sulfuric acid to a pyrosulfate fusion with simultaneous volatilization of all silica and fluoride. Radium is precipitated with barium already present in the sample by addition of lead perchlorate to a dilute hydrochloric acid solution of the pyrosulfate cake. The resulting insoluble sulfates are dissolved in an alkaline solution of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, and the radium and barium sulfates are reprecipitated with acetic acid. Some data on radium-226 in wastes and environmental samples and methods for its removal are presented.