Concerning the low uranium and thorium yields in the electrodeposition process of soil and sediment analyses

The very low yields obtained in a common method of cc-particle spectrometry for the determination of uranium and thorium in soil and sediment samples of environmental origin were investigated. Several experiments were perform ed to determine the cause. The results suggest that aluminium may cause maj or chemical interference in the electrodeposition process, and can be consi dered to be primarily responsible for the low recoveries found. A procedure is proposed to resolve this problem. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.