EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE DEGREE OF SAMARIUM ISOTOPES PURIFICATION FROM ALKALINE AND ALKALINE-EARTH ELEMENTS BY PRECIPITATION OF HYDROXIDES OF POLYVALENT METALS

Abstract

The relevance of the research is caused by the need to develop a methodological base for determining 151Sm content in the territory of the former Semipalatinsk test site. At present, there is no information on the levels of content of this radionuclide in the environment. This does not allow estimating the internal exposure doses for population. The aim of the research is to evaluate the degree of purification of samarium isotopes from alkaline and alkaline-earth elements by precipitation of polyvalent metals’ hydroxides as part of the development of a method for determining 151Sm in the soil cover in the territory of former Semipalatinsk test site. Object of the research is a model solution based on nitric acid and containing the basic elements of the soil matrix and stable isotopes of some natural radionuclides (bismuth, lead and thallium). Methods. pH of solutions was determined using MARK-901; concentrations of chemical elements were determined using the Agilent 7700x quadrupole mass spectrometer and the iCAP 6300 Duo atomic emission spectrometer. Results. The authors have proposed the optimal solution pH value for removing the most part of the alkaline and alkaline-earth elements with a sufficiently high yield of samarium. Purification from alkaline elements was on the average of 90 %, from alkaline-earth – 80 %.

Keywords

• macroelements and microelements
• samarium-151
• precipitation of hydroxides
• experimental evaluation of purification degree
• cooprecipitation