Alpha spectrometry: detector calibration, separation techniques developments, electrodeposition and application to geochemistry

Spectrometry of α-decaying radionuclides is of great concern for investigations on materials involved in the nuclear fuel cycle, for in-vitro analysis of personnel working with actinide compounds, but also for geochemical studies in terrestrial surface environments. This year the method development concentrated mainly on radiochemical purification of U and Th series radionuclides from geological materials as well as on electrodeposition of actinides (Th, U, Pu, Am, Cm) to produce thin, almost weightless sources for α-spectrometry. Various intercomparison exercises yielded good agreements between the results obtained in the laboratory and reference values (e.g. 210Po, 238U, 234U in urine, 90Sr/90Y in soils. (author) 1 fig., 1 ref