A simple non-distillation method for the estimation of Ru-106 in urine

✍ Scribed by M.V.R. Prasad; D.S. Suryanarayana; R.K. Jeevanram

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 672 KB
• Volume: 45
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0969-8043
• DOI: 10.1016/0969-8043(94)90145-7

✦ Synopsis

A simple method has been developed for estimating Ru-106 in urine. Urine samples spiked with 3350 Bq of Ru-106 and 200 gcg of ruthenium carrier were initially oxidized using an HNO,-H20, mixture. Attempts to recover ruthenium by various preconcentration methods after the initial oxidation resulted in recoveries ranging from lo-54% depending on the experimental conditions.

For near quantitative recoveries, the organic matter in urine was completely destroyed by wet ashing with HNO,-H,02 (method A) or HNO,-H,O, followed by H,SO, treatment (method B). The ruthenium was oxidized to RuO, using potassium periodate and allowed to react in situ with polyethylene powder. The polyethylene powder was separated, washed and its beta activity was counted. The recovery of ruthenium was 86.9 + 4.6% (RSD 5.3%) in method A; and 94.4 & 2.6% (RSD 2.8%) in method B. The minimum detection limit achieved was 0.59 Bq/dm'. Interferences due to Cs-137 and Sr-90 were studied.