title: Determination of alpha activity in solid samples by leaching or digestion.
abstract: The analysis of solid environmental samples by α-particle spectrometry generally involves processes requiring an initial treatment to destroy the complexes in the matrix, and dissolve the radionuclides of interest. This study compared the activities obtained for several natural radionuclides ((238)U, (234)U, (230)Th, (226)Ra, and (210)Po) in previously well-characterized materials, using two procedures: acid leaching and digestion in a microwave oven. The measured activities were in general very similar for the two procedures, with a strong statistical correlation between the two sets of values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Extremadura, E-06006 Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Torre Pérez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jurado Vargas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín Sánchez
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rubio Montero
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ruano Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D000512:Alpha Particles; D006361:Heating / Q000379:methods*; D008872:Microwaves; D011208:Powders / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D011208:Powders; D011868:Radioisotopes
keywords: Acid leaching; Alpha-particle spectrometry; Microwave acid digestion