Separation and measurement of thorium, plutonium, americium, uranium and strontium in environmental matrices
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Date
2011-10-01
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Elsevier
Abstract
A technique for the isolation of thorium (Th), plutonium (Pu), americium (Am), uranium (U) and strontium (Sr) isotopes from various environmental matrices has been adapted from a previously published method specific to water samples (Maxwell, 2006). Separation and isolation of the various elemental fractions from a single sub-sample is possible, thereby eliminating the need for multiple analyses.
The technique involves sample dissolution, concentration via calcium phosphate co-precipitation, rapid column extraction using TEVA™, TRU™ and Sr-Spec™ resin cartridges, alpha spectrometry for Th, Pu, U and Am and Cerenkov counting for Sr.
Various standard reference materials were analysed and chemical yields are in the range of 70–80% for Th, Am, U and Sr and 50–60% for Pu. Sample sizes of up to 10 L for water, 5 g for dry soil and sediment and 10 g for dry vegetation and seaweed can be processed using this technique. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
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Keywords
Thorium, Plutonium, Uranium, Strontium, Americium, Separation processes
Citation
Harrison, J. J., Zawadzki, A., Chisari, R., Wong, H. K. Y. (2011). Separation and measurement of thorium, plutonium, americium, uranium and strontium in environmental matrices. Paper presented to the 10th Biennial SPERA (South Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Association) Conference, 24/11/2008 to 27/11/2008, Christchurch, New Zealand. In Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 102(10), 896-900. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.05.010