A comparative analysis of uranium in potable waters using laser fluorimetry and ICPMS techniques

The main objective of this work is the accurate measurement of uranium in the potable water sources of Muktsar district of Punjab, India. In the present work, a laser fluorimetry technique was used for the analysis of uranium. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) technique was also applied to verify and compare the uranium content analyzed using laser technique. About 16 samples from waterworks, bore wells, and hand pumps that supply the drinking water to local population were collected for this purpose. An indigenous laser fluorimeter supplied by RRCAT, Indore was employed for the analysis. Uranium concentrations obtained were in the range from 0 to 10 mu g L-1 in ten samples, 11-30 mu g L-1 in three samples, and more than 100 mu g L-1 in three samples namely Channu ground water, Warning Khera pump, and Killanwale village hand pump. The USEPA guideline value for uranium in safe drinking water is 30 mu g L-1. Also, a data comparison with similar studies carried out in other countries is presented.