Determination of trace element concentrations and stable lead, uranium and thorium isotope ratios by quadrupole-ICP-MS in NORM and NORM-polluted sample leachates

This works focus on the monitoring of the potential pollution in scenarios that involves NORM related industrial activities (environmental or in-door scenarios). The objective was to develop a method to determine extent and origin of the contamination, suitable for monitoring (i.e. simple, fast and...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Más Balbuena, José Luis, Villa Alfageme, María, Hurtado Bermúdez, Santiago José, García-Tenorio García-Balmaseda, Rafael
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/156856
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/156856
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.12.058
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:NORM pollution
206Pb/207Pb/208Pb
238U/234U
232Th/230Th
Quadrupole-ICP-MS
Extraction chromatography
Descripción
Sumario:This works focus on the monitoring of the potential pollution in scenarios that involves NORM related industrial activities (environmental or in-door scenarios). The objective was to develop a method to determine extent and origin of the contamination, suitable for monitoring (i.e. simple, fast and economical) and avoiding the use of too many different instruments. It is presented a radiochemical method that allows the determination of trace element concentrations and 206Pb/207Pb/208Pb, 238U/234U and 232Th/230 Th isotope ratios using a single sample aliquot and a single instrument (ICP-QMS). Eichrom UTEVA® extraction chromatography minicolumns were used to separate uranium and thorium in samples leachates. Independent ICP-MS determinations of uranium and thorium isotope ratios were carried out afterwards. Previously a small aliquot of the leachate was used for the determination of trace element concentrations and lead isotope ratios. Several radiochemical arrangements were tested to get maximum performances and simplicity of the method. The performances of the method were studied in terms of chemical yields of uranium and thorium and removal of the potentially interfering elements. The established method, was applied to samples from a chemical industry and sediments collected in a NORM polluted scenario. The results obtained from our method allowed us to infer not only the extent, but also the sources of the contamination in the area.