Abstract
A new method of227Ac determination is based on total sample decomposition, followed by preconcentration as oxalate and hydroxides, and purification from thorium isotopes and rare earths on ion-exchange columns with nitric acid. The actinium is electroplated on stainless-steel discs with near 100% yield from a water/propanol medium and measured by alpha spectrometry.225Ac is used as a yield monitor. An immediate first count gives overall tracer recovery (typically around 80%). A second count two months later gives a sensitive measure of227Ac through its decay products at 5.5–6.1 MeV. Analysis of reference samples gave satisfactory results.
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Bojanowski, R., Holm, E. & Whitehead, N.E. Determination of227Ac in environmental samples by ion-exchange and alpha spectrometry. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 115, 23–37 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02041973
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02041973