Journal of Radiation Protection and Research

The Korean Association for Radiation Protection (대한방사선방어학회)
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Efficient Sample Digestion Method for Uranium Determination in Soil using Microwave Digestion for Alpha Spectrometry

마이크로파 용해장치를 활용한 토양 중 우라늄의 알파분광분석법

  • 김창종 (과학기술연합대학원대학교) ;
  • 조윤해 (과학기술연합대학원대학교) ;
  • 김대지 (과학기술연합대학원대학교) ;
  • 채정석 (한국원자력안전기술원) ;
  • 윤주용 (과학기술연합대학원대학교)
  • Received : 2012.11.12
  • Accepted : 2012.12.06
  • Published : 2012.12.31
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Abstract

Alpha spectrometry has been typically used for determination of the uranium isotopes in soil. For a number of uranium analysis in soil samples, rapid sample digestion with limited quantities of mixed acid containing HF will give a contribution for effective management of uranium analysis. Microwave digestion system is evaluated for rapid sample digestion using reference uranium soil (IAEA-375 soil). For completion of 0.5 g of soil digestion by microwave, 3 ml of HF in a 10 ml of mixed acid is minimum requirement volume for completed soil digestion for 80 minutes. Microwave digestion is timely effective techniques for uranium measurement using alpha spectrometry compared to the other methods (open vessel digestion, closed vessel digestion) due to rapid sample digestion. In addition, it can be reduced the occurrence of hazardous substances by minimizing the amount of HF.

토양 중 우라늄 동위원소의 분석을 위해서 알파분광분석법이 보편적으로 사용되고 있다. 다수의 토양시료를 분석할 경우 시료분해 시간을 단축함으로써 전체 분석시간을 효과적으로 줄일 수 있으며, 이를 위해 본 연구에서는 단시간에 시료를 완전 분해할 수 있는 마이크로파 용해장치를 활용하였다. IAEA-375를 분석 대상 토양으로 하여 용해되지 않은 시료의 양과 분석한 $^{234}U$과 $^{238}U$의 방사능 농도 값을 통해 시료분해 방법을 최적화 하였으며, 0.5 g의 토양시료에 최소 3 ml의 불산을 가했을 때 80분 내에 효과적으로 분해되는 것을 확인하였다. 이는 2~3일의 분해시간이 필요한 통상적인 방법(open vessel 및 closed vessel을 이용하는 방법)에 비해 시간을 단축 할 수 있어 효율적이며, 불산 사용을 최소화 하여 시료용해 시 발생할 수 있는 유해 물질의 발생 및 접촉을 줄일 수 있다는 장점이 있다.

Keywords

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