Determination of 226Ra in aqueous solutions via sorption on thin films and α-spectrometry

An improved spectrometric method to determine the 226Ra activity in aqueous solutions is described. The method involves two stages, a preconcentration stage of 226Ra sorption onto a thin manganese layer and a measurement stage using α-spectrometry. Manganese oxide thin films were prepared and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses. The thin films were found to follow the XRD patterns and chemical formula of the K-birnessite layered exchanger. The preconcentration of radium was studied relative to the initial radium concentration, pH and salt concentrations. The preconcentration kinetics was studied as a function of manganese surface, solution volume and salt concentration. Extensive Monte Carlo calculations were performed to optimise the detection of α-particles. In this way, the thin film preparation procedure as well as the radium sorption and the measurement conditions were optimised and detection limits lower than 0.5 mBq L−1 were obtained for 2 d of procedure completion. The method was validated with IAEA standards and it was applied for the determination of 226Ra in bottled waters and also wastewaters from the major thermoelectric plant in Greece. Moreover, the 226Ra distribution coefficients (Kd) of two differently prepared powder manganese oxides, a crystalline silicotitanate and an aluminium-pillared montmorillonite were determined by γ-spectrometry. 226Ra sorption experiments on silicotitanate thin films were performed and improvements in resolution and reduction of exposure time were observed.