DETERMINATION OF FISSION-PRODUCTS AND ACTINIDES IN THE BLACK-SEA FOLLOWING THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

Radiochemical procedures are discussed for the isolation and determination of a suite of radionuclides in samples from the Black Sea following their input from the Chernobyl reactor accident. The samples analyzed include discrete water samples and both suspended and dissolved phases collected by in-situ chemisorption techniques. The radiochemical scheme permits the separation and analysis of134Cs,137Cs,90Sr,144Ce,147Pm,106Ru,239Pu,240Pu, and in some instances242Cm,238Pu, and241Am. The detection techniques employed include various instrumental gamma spectrometric methods, low-level beta counting, alpha spectrometry, and mass spectrometry. The method's developments are described and data are presented on some representative samples from the Black Sea. The sensitivity of the analysis for the various nuclides and sample types is summarized and questions of radiochemical interferences are addressed. © 1990 Akadémiai Kiadó.