Determination of (226)Ra in produced water by liquid scintillation counting.
It is proposed a method for the determination of (226)Ra in offshore platform liquid effluent samples (produced water). The method is based on a two-phase liquid scintillation counting system and allows for the direct and simple determination of (226)Ra content. Samples with high barium content may also have high (226)Ra concentration. Therefore, the sample volume is based on the barium concentration and ranges from 10 mL to 100 mL. Our new method was tested using multiple real samples and was compared with the BaSO4 precipitation method. The results based on the LSC were 30% higher than the precipitation method, which is attributed to the self-absorption of alpha particles in the BaSO4 precipitate. The determination of both (226)Ra and (228)Ra in the liquid effluent of offshore oil platforms is mandatory in Brazil. Thus, a second method of accurately assessing (228)Ra content remains necessary.
Department of Chemistry, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225 - Gávea, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: jmgodoy@puc-rio.br.
José Marcus
JM
Godoy
Department of Chemistry, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225 - Gávea, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lucas M
LM
Vianna
Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria, Avenida Salvador Allende s/n, Jacarepaguá, 22780-160 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Maria Luiza D P
ML
Godoy
Department of Chemistry, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225 - Gávea, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ana Cristina
AC
Almeida
D001464:Barium / Q000032:analysis; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry; D001938:Brazil; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012588:Scintillation Counting; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D001464:Barium; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D011883:Radium
(226)Ra; Liquid scintillation counting; Produced water