A comparative study of 226Ra determination using total counting and alpha spectrometry in environmental water samples

Abstract

The quick determination of natural radionuclides is very important in emergency situations, supporting decisions of environmental contamination prevention. A quick methodology for determination of the 226Ra was applied in water samples and the results were compared to those obtained by the conventional method. The technique is based on the microprecipitation of radio barium sulfate and subsequent quantification of 226Ra by alpha spectrometry. The procedure used presented high chemical recoveries and good sensitivity. The main advantage is to obtain the results in 3 days.