Astrid Gojmerac Ivšić

Determination of uranium and thorium in complex samples using chromatographic separation, ICP-MS and spectrophotometric detection

The paper describes a research of possible application of UTEVA and TRU resins and anion exchanger AMBERLITE CG-400 in nitrate form for the isolation of uranium and thorium from natural samples. The results of determination of distribution coefficient have shown that uranium and thorium bind on TRU and UTEVA resins from the solutions of nitric and hydrochloric acids, and binding strength increases proportionally to increase the concentration of acids. Uranium and thorium bind rather strongly to TRU resin from the nitric acid in concentration ranging from 0.5 to 5 mol L(-1), while large quantities of other ions present in the sample do not influence on the binding strength. Due to the difference in binding strength in HCl and HNO(3) respectively, uranium and thorium can be easily separated from each other on the columns filled with TRU resin. Furthermore, thorium binds to anion exchanger in nitrate form from alcohol solutions of nitric acid very strongly, while uranium does not, so they can be easily separated. Based on these results, we have created the procedures of preconcentration and separation of uranium and thorium from the soil, drinking water and seawater samples by using TRU and UTEVA resins and strong base anion exchangers in nitrate form. In one of the procedures, uranium and thorium bind directly from the samples of drinking water and seawater on the column filled with TRU resin from 0.5 mol L(-1) HNO(3) in a water sample. After binding, thorium is separated from uranium with 0.5 mol L(-1) HCl, and uranium is eluted with deionised water. By applying the described procedure, it is possible to achieve the concentration factor of over 1000 for the column filled with 1g of resin and splashed with 2L of the sample. Spectrophotometric determination with Arsenazo III, with this concentration factor results in detection limits below 1 microg L(-1) for uranium and thorium. In the second procedure, uranium and thorium are isolated from the soil samples with TRU resin, while they are separated from each other on the column filled with anion exchanger in alcohol solutions. Anion exchanger combined with alcohol solutions enables isolation of thorium from soil samples and its separation from a wide range of elements, as well as spectrophotometric determination, ICP-MS determination, and other determination techniques.

210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis from Croatian Adriatic coast with the related dose assessment to the coastal population

Activity concentrations of (210)Po and (210)Pb in the species Mytilus galloprovincialis from Croatian Adriatic coast were determined. The samples were collected in thirteen sampling places which are also a part of Croatian Mediterranean mussel watch project. The results of (210)Po and (210)Pb activity concentrations were found to vary between (22.1±2.5)-(207±21) Bq kg(-1) fresh weight and (2.8±1.4)-(9.3±0.7) Bq kg(-1) fresh weight, respectively. (210)Po/(210)Pb ratio ranged between 6.2 and 30.7. The highest measured activities were found in the enclosed basins of the Neretva channel, where the majority of Croatian mussel cultivation is taking place. The estimated consequent average total annual effective ingestion dose due to (210)Po and (210)Pb from mussel consumption in Croatian coastal region is 202±99 μSv with 96% contribution of (210)Po to the total effective dose.

Compressible Fluid – An Alternative Concept within CSSM

In the paper an attempt to introduce an alternative concept for pressure-volume behavior of sands is presented. It is motivated by analogy between sand body and compressible fluid. Included is a brief description of methodology used for developing the concept, which is also applied to current and possible future research topics. The short overview of main findings is outlined with discussion and comments on possible implications for actual understanding of pressure-volume relations. The basic expected relation for studying the stress-strain relations is discussed, and, also, the possible relation between Critical State line and isotropic compression line coming from the proposed model is presented. The need for comprehensive and reliable experimental data is strongly emphasized.