A Radiochemical Determination of Alpha Exposure from Enriched Uranium in Urine

A method is described for the separation and measurement of alpha activity from enriched uranium in urine. The uranium is collected by an alkaline phosphate precipitation and is isolated from urine constituents through ion exchange. The resulting solution is measured fluorimetrically for uranium and then electroplated for alpha count. Self absorption of the alpha particles is minimized by the preliminary ion exchange separation and by an improved electrodeposition technique. Fluorimetric recovery of added uranium from one liter of urine is approximately 95% ± 10%. The recovery by alpha count is 92% ± 10%.