Assay methods for measuring 238U, 232Th, and 210Pb concentrations in refined lead are presented. The 238U and 232Th concentrations are assayed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after anion exchange column separation on dissolved lead samples. The 210Pb concentration is inferred through a-spectroscopy of a daughter isotope, 210Po, after chemical precipitation separation on dissolved lead samples. Subsequent to the 210Po a-spectroscopy assay, a method for evaluating 210Pb concentrations in solid lead samples was developed via measurement of bremsstrahlung radiation from ß-decay of a daughter isotope, 210Bi, by employing a 14-crystal array of high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. Ten sources of refined lead were assayed. The 238U concentrations were
Revised: November 4, 2016 |
Published: February 13, 2016
Citation
Orrell J.L., C.E. Aalseth, I.J. Arnquist, T.A. Eggemeyer, B.D. Glasgow, E.W. Hoppe, and M.E. Keillor, et al. 2016.Assay Methods for 238U, 232Th, and 210Pb in Lead and Calibration of 210Bi Bremsstrahlung Emission from Lead.Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 309, no. 3:1271-1281.PNNL-SA-115123.doi:10.1007/s10967-016-4732-6