This paper presents a rapid screening method for the detection of 243+244Cm alpha radioactivity in foods.  The method uses DGA resin (N,N,N',N'-tetra-n-octyldiglycolamide), which has strong affinity for curium (Cm) in nitric acid media, to extract Cm isotopes from foods that were wet ashed in 8M nitric acid.  The extracted Cm isotopes were reclaimed from the resin using 0.1M HCl�0.1M H2C2O4 and total alpha radioactivity was then quantified by alpha/beta discriminative liquid scintillation counting.  The method was developed and validated using meat, grain, vegetable, dairy, and composite food samples spiked with known amounts of 243Cm and 244Cm.  The study results showed that matrix and natural radiometric interferences were adequately removed while greater than 95% of 243Cm and 244Cm were recovered from 15-min batch extraction using 1 g of DGA resin.  The experimental results, instrument optimization, and estimate of minimum detection limit with consideration of alpha/beta crossover interference will be discussed.

Rapid screening of <sup>243+244</sup>Cm in foods by solid phase extraction: Liquid scintillation counting

245th National Meeting (2013)

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Rapid screening of 243+244Cm in foods by solid phase extraction: Liquid scintillation counting

Rapid screening of ^243+244Cm in foods by solid phase extraction: Liquid scintillation counting