Radioanalytical determination of actinides and fission products in Belarussoils

Alpha emitting actinides such as plutonium, americium or curium were measur ed by alpha-spectrometry after radiochemical separation. The short range of alpha-particles within matter requires, after a pre-concentration process, a succession of isolation and purification steps based on the valence stat es modification of the researched elements. For counting, actinides were el ectrodeposited in view to obtain the mass-less source necessary to avoid se lf-absorption of the emitted radiations. Activity concentrations of gamma-e mitting fission products were calculated after measurement with high purity germanium detectors (HPGe). These different methods were used to analyse s oils sampled in the Republic of Belarus, not far from the Chernobyl nuclear plant. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.