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Improvement in the chemical separation and determination of uncertainties for bulk analysis of Pu isotopes at ultra-trace levels by using MC-ICP-MS

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Abstract

Improved bulk analysis based on extraction chromatography and systematic evaluations of uncertainties of plutonium isotopes at ultra-trace levels in environmental swipe samples are presented. In the modified method based on a single column system using UTEVA resin for MC-ICP-MS, hydrogen peroxide was introduced to obtain pure plutonium isotopes from chemical separation by removing excess organic-based reducing reagents. We confirmed that hydrogen peroxide effectively decomposed the reducing reagents characterized by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy and the peak fluctuations were significantly reduced. To examine the reliability of analytical performance, we systematically evaluated the combined uncertainties during the overall chemical procedures using simulated samples containing Pu reference materials.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Khris Olsen (PNNL) for providing cotton swipe materials and Ms. Minyoung Lee for assistance with chemical pre-treatment and chemical separation. This work was supported by Nuclear Safety R&D project of Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of KOREA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Chemistry Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daedeok-daero 989-111, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea

    Sang Ho Lim, Jinkyu Park, Sun-Ho Han, Ranhee Park, Chi-Gyu Lee, Jong-Ho Park & Kyuseok Song

  2. Department of Radiochemistry and Nuclear Nonproliferation, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea

    Sang Ho Lim & Jong-Ho Park

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  1. Sang Ho Lim
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  2. Jinkyu Park
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  3. Sun-Ho Han
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  4. Ranhee Park
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  5. Chi-Gyu Lee
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  6. Jong-Ho Park
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  7. Kyuseok Song
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Correspondence to Sang Ho Lim.

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Lim, S.H., Park, J., Han, SH. et al. Improvement in the chemical separation and determination of uncertainties for bulk analysis of Pu isotopes at ultra-trace levels by using MC-ICP-MS. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 307, 1853–1859 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4459-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4459-9

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