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Sequential chemical separations and multiple ion counting ICP-MS for 241Pu–241Am–237Np dating of environmental collections on a single aliquot

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Abstract

We have developed a combined sequential chemical separation procedure and multiple ion counting ICP-MS measurement method for isotopic measurements of Am in environmental samples. This, in conjunction with established resin bead TIMS measurements for Pu and Np, allows us to measure long-lived Pu–Np–Am nuclides in environmental samples on a single solution aliquot. This single aliquot method reduces time lines and maximizes sample utility for the measurements, improving sensitivity, precision, and accuracy over prior methods. We have evaluated this new method with environmental reference materials and have obtained accurate results on samples with > 3E6 atoms 241Am.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Air Force Technical Applications Center for their support of this project and the new instrumentation that made this work possible. We also thank Mike Murrell for his contributions to this project, and Steve Lamont and the anonymous journal reviewer for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, C-NR, Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS J514, PO Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    Steven J. Goldstein, Kimberly A. Hinrichs, Andrew J. Nunn, Daniel W. Gurganus, Ronald S. Amato & Warren J. Oldham

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  1. Steven J. Goldstein
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  2. Kimberly A. Hinrichs
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  3. Andrew J. Nunn
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  4. Daniel W. Gurganus
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  5. Ronald S. Amato
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  6. Warren J. Oldham
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Correspondence to Steven J. Goldstein.

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Goldstein, S.J., Hinrichs, K.A., Nunn, A.J. et al. Sequential chemical separations and multiple ion counting ICP-MS for 241Pu–241Am–237Np dating of environmental collections on a single aliquot. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318, 695–701 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6045-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6045-4

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