DETERMINATION OF CO-60 IN ENVIRONMENTAL WATER SAMPLES BY A HYDROUS MAGNESIUM-OXIDE FILTER

Preconcentration of trace Co-60 and analogous radionuclides by adsorpt ion on MgO for their determination in environmental water samples exem plified by seawater was demonstrated. An adsorption filter fabricated by coating hydrous MgO onto a round piece of a densely twilled nylon c loth was used to facilitate separation of the radionuclides adsorbed. The MgO adsorption filter was sealed in a polyethylene column. The wat er sample analyzed was pumped through the column where the radionuclid es could be efficiently adsorbed onto the filter. Thereafter the radio nuclides enriched filter was transferred to a high-purity germanium de tector connected with a multichannel analyzer for gamma-spectrometry. The novel preconcentration technique proves to be fast and efficacious and detection of Co-60 becomes highly sensitive because of the very l arge enrichment factor.