High-Resolution Liquid Scintillation Method for the Analytical Determination of Alpha-Emitters in Environmental Samples

Appropriate optical and electronic components used in conjunction with an improved scintillator solution allow alpha liquid scintillation spectroscopy with an energy resolution of 200 to 300 keV and a background of 0.01 to 0.005 cpm. Liquid-liquid extraction procedures allow selective extraction of nuclides of interest directly into the scintillator. Applications to environmental samples are illustrated.