Preparedness for a nuclear accident

removal of radioiodine from soil by chemical processing

authored by

Brett L. Rosenberg, Georg Steinhauser

Abstract

Processing environmental samples for analysis can result in loss of target or bystander radionuclides. Removal of carrier-free ¹³¹I from soil samples by chemical processes was evaluated in the presence and absence of iodide carrier, H₂O₂, and AgNO₃. Soil samples spiked with ¹³¹I and ¹³⁴Cs tracer were boiled under reflux for 30 min in HNO₃ and combinations of aforementioned reagents. Spectroscopic analysis revealed the greatest removal of radioiodine (45 ± 1 %) was achieved using AgNO₃ and carrier; the lowest (7 ± 1 %) was achieved by refluxing with H₂O₂ and HNO₃. The results quantify the effect of iodide carrier and suggest the preferential interaction of H₂O₂ with iodide instead of soil organic matter.

Organisation(s)

Centre for Radiation Protection and Radioecology

External Organisation(s)

Colorado State University

Type

Article

Journal

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume

307

Pages

1765-1769

No. of pages

5

ISSN

0236-5731

Publication date

01.03.2016

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Analytical Chemistry, Nuclear Energy and Engineering, Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging, Pollution, Spectroscopy, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4376-y (Access: Closed)