A rapid method of radium-226 analysis in water samples using an alpha spectroscopic technique

"A fast, reliable and accurate method for radium-226 determination in environmental water samples has been devised, using an alpha spectroscopic technique. The correlation between barium-133 and radium-226 in the barium-radium sulphate precipitation mechanism was studied and in the limited experimental recovery range, the coefficient of correlation was r = 0.986. A self-absorption study for various barium carrier concentrations was also undertaken to obtain the least broadening of alpha energy line widths. An optimum value of 0.3 mg barium carrier was obtained for chemical recovery in the range of 85%.IntroductionWith the increase in uranium mining activities, the migration and spread of radioactivity via various environmental pathways is of great concern. Because of its inherent biological hazard and relatively long half-life, (approximately 1620 years), raidum-226 is frequently monitored as a measure of radioactive contamination of the environment. It is, therefore, necessary to modify existing methods for rapid determination of radium-226 in environmental samples for quick corrective measures in the event of seepage, dam leakage or discharge violations."