Method for the Determination of Fe-55 and Ni-63 in Solid and Liquid Samples

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a method for determining the radioactive isotopes Fe-55 and Ni-63 in both solid and liquid samples. The method involves selectively separating these isotopes using a series of chemical steps, including acid addition, extraction with an organic solvent, phase separation, and measurement by liquid scintillation spectrometry. The process is designed to be fast, reproducible, and uses readily available, inexpensive reagents.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Monitoring radioactive contamination in environmental samples such as wastewater or soil
• Quality control in nuclear power plants and nuclear waste processing
• Analysis of samples in radiochemical laboratories or research settings
• Safety checks for decontamination work in nuclear remediation projects
• Determining radioactive isotope concentrations in industrial or medical waste samples

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly faster and simpler than traditional methods, reducing analysis time from days to hours
• High reproducibility and selectivity for Fe-55 and Ni-63, with chemical yields over 98%
• Uses common and low-cost chemicals, minimizing operational cost
• Avoids expensive chromatographic columns required by earlier techniques
• Reduces the need for additional complex calibration due to its quantitative separation
• Applicable to both solid and liquid samples, increasing versatility
• Enables low detection limits, suitable for sensitive environmental monitoring

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining Fe-55 and Ni-63. In step a), HCl is added to the sample, whereby chloro complexes are formed. In step b), an extraction is conducted in a polar organic solvent. In step c), an aqueous Ni-63 containing phase and an organic Fe-55 containing phase are obtained. According to step d), a stripping step is conducted with a mineral acid (for example, HNO3, H2SO4). To this end, any common mineral acid is suited, except for HCl. After the addition according to step e) of a scintillator cocktail to the product of the treated aqueous and/or organic phase e) described according to a) to d), in step f) the activity of the ß-emitter in the liquid scintillation spectrometer (LSC) is determined.