Chem 113 Report

Prepared by: Jeanne Lorraine P. Amponin

Submitted to: Sir Leon Payawan
 URANIUM
E-configuration : [Rn] 5f3 6d1 7s2
Oxidation States: +3 to +6
Atomic Number : 92
Atomic Weight : 238.02891
Melting Point : 1408 K (1135°C)
Boiling Point : 4404 K (4131°C)
Density : 18.95 g/cm3
Phase at RT : Solid
Group : Actinide
Sources:
https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele092.html
https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/uranium-mining
https://cosmosmagazine.com/chemistry/uranium-the-element-of-surprise
 Isotopes

Source: https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/92/uranium
 Sources
Occurs naturally in several minerals such as
uranite (pitchblende), brannerite and carnotite
Uses
Nuclear reactors; major material for synthesis of
trans-uranium elements

Hazards
Toxic; radioactive (if inhaled or ingested, potential
risk of lung and bone cancer)
Source: https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/92/uranium
Journal Article:
 Kazakhstan is the top uranium-producing country

Source: http://www.atlapedia.com/online/maps/political/Kazakh_etc.htm
Uranium Mining Sites
• Kurday in Kazakhstan
• Taboshar in Tajikistan

open pit mine artificial pit lakes

Objectives
• Determine U contamination of pit lakes
• Determine influence of U on the down
stream waters
• Evaluate use of lakes for eating, drinking
and irrigation
Methodology
I. Sampling
A. Water
 Samples
 Test Samples pit lake, artesian well,
downstream rivers
 Reference Sample 7.5 km and 35 km
away
 Parameters
-conductivity, temperature, pH, and ionic
strength
Methodology continuation
II. Measurement Techniques
A. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
(ICP-MS)
 ionization source that fully decomposes a sample
into its constituent elements and transforms those
elements into ions
B. Alpha Spectrometry (AS)
 used to identify and quantify radionuclides based
on the alpha particles emitted in the decay process.
Methodology continuation
II. Measurement Techniques continuation
C. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (RNAA)
 Used to identify and quantify radionuclides based on the
gamma particles emitted in the decay process

III. Quality assurance

 instrumental precision of ICP-MS: 5-10%
accuracy of ICP-MS within 5%
measuring uncertainty for all elements ±20%
measuring uncertainty for activity ratio ±5%
Methodology continuation
Quality Summary: good agreement among 3 methods of
measurement
 Results and Discussion
I. Water Parameters
 pH  neutral to slightly basic for both pit lakes (pH 7.2- pH
8.5)
**Note: Normal drinking water pH range mentioned in WHO and NDWQS guidelines is
between 6.5 and 8.5

 Conductivity Kurday testing: 0.85-2.5 mS/cm

Taboshar testing: higher than 1 mS/cm
**Note: According to NDWQS, the maximum allowable level of conductivity is 1000 μS/cm.
No direct impact on human health; more on aesthetic value; determined for several purposes
such as determination of mineralization rate and estimating the amount of chemical reagents
used to treat this

Source: Journal Article: Analysis of Physiochemical Parameters to Evaluate the Drinking Water Quality in the State of Perak,
Malaysia
Results and Discussion
Notes:
 Unit of radioactivity: The becquerel (symbol Bq) is the
unit of radioactivity. One Bq is defined as the activity of
a quantity of radioactive material in which one nucleus
decays per second.
 238U/ 234U signal
• Secular equilibrium between 238U and its daughter 234U
within mineral matrix (ratio will equal 1)
• Disequilibrium between 238U and 234U upon transfer
from mineral to water
Results and Discussion
I. Uranium in water
 Kurday Testing

**Note: Guideline value for U in drinking water as recommended by WHO is 15 mg/L

Results and Discussion
I. Uranium in water
 Taboshar Testing

**Note: Guideline value for U in drinking water as recommended by WHO is 15 mg/L

Results and Discussion
II. Uranium in fish
 Kurday Testing
Results and Discussion
II. Uranium in fish
 Taboshar Testing
 Uranium in the Philippines
Key Points:
 1953- earliest recorded work (airborne
radiometric and geochemical survey methods)
 1977- nuclear power program was established
 1986- reorganization of supervising body;
establishment of Philippine Nuclear Research
Institute
 1997- received gamma ray spectrometric system
 So far about 60% of the country has been covered
by some airborne radiometric, car-borne and foot-
borne gamma ray survey techniques but mostly by
reconnaissance geochemical surveys
 Currently exploring possibility of extracting
uranium, REE and other valuable minerals from
phosphoric acid

Source: HISTORICAL REVIEW AND CURRENT EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES FOR

NUCLEAR MINERALS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Reactions, Comments, Reflection
 Importance of the water parameters measured should be
included for better understanding
 Aside from R2, the slope could also be specified to
compare the precision of results among the three
instruments
 Uranium undergoes alpha and beta decay. Emission of
gamma rays is weak. Investment in alpha spectrometry
may produce more results in uranium tracing in the
Philippines.