AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF URANIUM ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION IN URINE BY ALPHA-SPECTROMETRY

A comparative study of source preparation techniques to determine uran ium isotopic composition by alpha spectrometry, namely electrodepositi on and chemical stripping with polymeric membrane containing trioctylp hosphine oxide (TOPO), is presented. The mean yield obtained for elect rodeposition and TOPO deposition were 85% and 74%, respectively. The m ean activity ratio U-235/U-238 were 0.044 and 0.042 and the ratio U-23 4/U-238 were 0.994 and 1.009, using electrodeposition and TOPO deposit ion techniques, respectively. The method of uranium separation from ur ine using an ion-exchange resin Dowex 1x8, chloride form and citrate f orm, was also studied. The obtained global yields of these methods wer e 50% and 41%, respectively.