Am. Yusof et al., THE USE OF CHARCOAL FROM AGRICULTURE WASTE IN THE SPECIATION OF IODINE FROM WELL AND RIVER WATERS, Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, 235(1-2), 1998, pp. 279-283
The concentrations of iodine in fresh waters are known to be within th
e range of 0.5 to 35 ng.ml(-1), much lower than in oceanic waters. The
iodine concentrations, particularly that of I-129 which is significan
t from the radiation safety aspect, in public drinking waters have to
be specified in order to verify the required level before distribution
for domestic use. A modified version of an established method was use
d in the adsorption of iodine, iodate, total inorganic iodine and char
coal-adsorbable iodine using activated carbon prepared from oil palm k
ernel wastes. A thorough investigation of the physical properties of t
he activated carbon was carried out to determine its viability as an a
dsorbent for volatile species such as iodine. The iodine species were
preconcentrated from water samples collected from wells in villages an
d from water intake points along rivers. The quantitative analysis of
the species adsorbed was done by irradiating the activated charcoal lo
aded with the respective species in a neutron flux of 5.1.10(12) n.cm(
-2).s(-1) from a TRIGA Mk.II nuclear reactor. Recovery experiments usi
ng spiked samples was done to provide quality assurance controls.