POTASSIUM ANALYSIS BY BETA-COUNTING USING A GEIGER-MULLER SYSTEM

A technique for quantitative analysis of different soils, ceramics, fe ldspars and natural halide samples is presented, based on the measurem ent of beta-activities using a Geiger-Muller system. The system was ca librated with KCl, KC8H5O4, KNO3 and K2SO4 standards and a potassium c ontent of 1 % yields a net beta-count rate (background subtracted) of about 55 cph. Precision values of less than +/- 0.4 % K can be achieve d in counting times of about 4 hours. The results agree with those obt ained by means of other more common analytical methods such as flame p hotometry, atomic absorption and gamma-spectrometry. In comparison wit h these methods, this approach is direct, precise and non-destructive, because the samples do not require prior treatment.