The estimation of radioactive strontium, barium, cobalt and iodine in river water

✍ Scribed by Duncan, J. F. ;Johss, T. F. ;Johnson, K. D. B. ;McKay, H. A. C. ;Maton, W. R. E. ;Pike, E. W. A. ;Walton, C. N.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1950
• Weight: 667 KB
• Volume: 69
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0368-4075
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5000690107

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Methods have been developed for the estimation of radioactive strontium, barium, cobalt and iodine in river water down to 10^−10^–10^−11^ curie, I. The methods involve chemical separations for each element in turn, followed by pray counting under sufficiently sensitive conditions. The recommended chemical separations arc briefly as follows:

For combined strontium and barium.—The water sample is evaporated to 3 small bulk with the addition of sodium carbonate solution. The precipitated carbonates arc treated with 80% nitric acid, which dissolves everything but strontium and barium nitrates and 3 mainly siliceous residue. The mixed nitrates arc dissolved in water, and the carbonates precipitated for counting.

For strontium and barium separately.—The usual chromate method is employed.

For cobalt.—The water sample is evaporated down with nitric acid. Ammonium cobaltothiocyanate is extracted with a mixed amyl alcohol‐ether solvent. The cobalt is precipitated 3s ferrocyanide for counting.

For iodine.—The iodine is estracted from the water sample by means of carbon tetrachloride, and precipitated as silver iodide for counting.