Radiochemical Study of Marble and Granite Fromlocal Market

Abstract

A sensitive method is used for the extraction and determination of soluble uranium in marble and granite using Isobutyl Methyl Ketone (IBMK) as extractant and 0.02%(w/v) Arsenazo (III) as a chromogenicre agent. The present study assesses the gross radioactivity and extractable uranium in marble and granite samples. A Multichannel Analyzer (MCA)coupled with NaI (Tl) crystal detector was used for the measurement of gross radioactivity where as spectrophotometer was used to estimate the uranium contained in sample with the help of Arsenazo (III). The extraction involved the adjustment of pH at 0.9.The efficient extraction was achieved by the addition of at least 10 gms of Al (NO . This method involved the reduction of UO 2 (+2) to U (IV) by using granulated Zinc in concentrated hydrochloric acid. The physical measurements showed the presence ofgross radioactivityinthe range266.19 Bq/kg to 644.268 Bq/Kg in marble and 871.63 Bq/kg to 1127.32 Bq/Kg in granite while the chemical analysis showed the marble sample analyzed had the uranium concentration in the range of 0.02 ppm to 0.06 ppm and the granite sample had the range of 0.08 ppm to 0.12 ppm. Key Words: Arsenazo (III),IBMK,Multichannel Analyzer,Spectrophotometer, Uranium.