Rapid Determination of 226Ra in Emergency Urine and Water
Published Time：2016-12-08
Summary of Method
226Ra is isolated from 100mL urine samples or up to 1 liter water samples and measured by
alpha spectrometry as described by Maxwell, et al.1 Radium is precipitated from samples with calcium phosphate. The
calcium phosphate precipitate is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and cation exchange chromatography is used to purify
radium and barium from matrix ions. Eichrom DGA Resin is used to remove other alpha emitting nuclides from radium.
Samples are prepared for radium measurement by alpha spectrometry via barium sulfate microprecipitation onto
Eichrom Resolve® Filters. Sample preparation, including alpha spectrometry source preparation, for batches of 12
samples can be completed by a single operator in as little as 3-4 hours, with >90% yield of Radium. Yields can be
traced with 133Ba by gamma spectrometry or 225Ra(229Th) by alpha spectrometry. If tracing with 225Ra, at least 8 hours of
ingrowth time are required for the alpha emitting 217At daughter of 225Ra prior to alpha spectrometry measurements.
