title: Validation of methods for the determination of radium in waters and soil.
abstract: This article describes the advantages and disadvantages of several analytical methods used to prepare the alpha-particle source. As a result of this study, a new method combining commercial extraction and ion chromatography prior to a final co-precipitation step is proposed. This method has been applied and validated on several matrices (soil, waters) in the framework of international intercomparisons. The integration of this method in a global procedure to analyze actinoids and radium from a single solution (or digested soil) is also described.
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg, Geel B-2440, Belgium. jean-gary.decaillon@cec.eu.int
authors.forename: J-G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Decaillon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bickel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Altzitzoglou
mesh_terms: D000512:Alpha Particles; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D011883:Radium