Examination of the isolation method of the radioactive microparticles in the environmental sample

Tagomori, Hisaya; Ishii, Yasuo; Kanaizuka, Seiichi*; Dohi, Terumi   ; Iijima, Kazuki  

In order to evaluate the chemical form and distribution of radionuclide in soil and litter near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, method for isolating radioactive particles were carried out. Main procedures for isolating radioactive particles are as follows; After drying and size classification, samples are decomposed with hydrogen peroxide. And then, IP method is carried out to monitor the distribution of radionuclide. A portion showing high radiation is selected as microscopic analysis which composed of Field Emission-Electron Prove Micro-Analyzer (FE-EPMA) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). As results of above method, several particles with unique elemental compositions such as Ba was identified. Moreover, methods for isolating particles of 100 - 200 um using the Micro Manipulator were established. The isolation of fine particles (less than 50 um), were also applied by the meaning of digging a trench on the carbon tape using Focused Ion Beam (FIB).