Simultaneous determination of plutonium and americium in biological and environmental samples

Abstract

A radiochemical method is given to determine the specific activity of²³⁸Pu,${}^{239/240}\bar Pu$ and²⁴¹Am from the global fallout in environmental and biological samples. The radiochemical recovery was for human livers Pu: 60–70%, Am: 40–60%; Bran: Pu: 50–70%, Am: 30–40%; Soil: Pu: 50–80%, Am: 30–50%. The resolution of the alpha-spectrum was for soils 30–40 keV and for livers and brans 40–60 KeV. To facilitate the wet ashing of large amounts of bran (15 kg), which are necessary to determine the presently very small activity concentrations of the transuranic elements in these types of samples, a fermentation process was employed. The procedure was tested by using NBS standard reference material and subsequently applied for the determination of Pu and Am from the global fallout in livers, plant tissues (bran), and soils.