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Improved sample preparation method for environmental plutonium analysis by ICP-SFMS and alpha-spectrometry

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Abstract

A rapid and simple sample preparation method for plutonium determination in environmental samples by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) and alpha-spectrometry is described. The developed procedure involves a selective CaF2 co-precipitation for preconcentration followed by extraction chromatographic separation. The proposed method effectively eliminates the possible interferences in mass spectrometric analysis and also removes interfering radionuclides that may disturb alpha-spectrometric measurement. For 239Pu, 240Pu and 241Pu limits of detection of 9.0 fg·g−1 (0.021 mBq), 1.7 fg·g−1 (0.014 mBq) and 3.1 fg·g−1 (11.9 mBq) were achieved by ICP-SFMS, respectively, and 0.02 mBq by alpha-spectrometry. Results of certified reference materials agreed well with the recommended values.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Isotopes, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Konkoly-Thege utca 29-33, H-1121, Budapest, Hungary

    Z. Varga & Z. Stefánka

  2. Research Group of Geophysics and Environmental Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary

    G. Surányi

  3. Radiochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Techniques, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521, Budapest, Hungary

    N. Vajda

Authors
  1. Z. Varga
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  2. G. Surányi
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  3. N. Vajda
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  4. Z. Stefánka
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Varga, Z., Surányi, G., Vajda, N. et al. Improved sample preparation method for environmental plutonium analysis by ICP-SFMS and alpha-spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 274, 87–94 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-006-6908-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-006-6908-y

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