Abstract
A new method improving the detection limit for potassium in plutonium oxide samples in a high acid matrix was developed. Ultratrace detection limits (sub parts per million) for potassium in plutonium oxide digestate were achieved by optimizing several instrument parameters. Using the Horiba Jobin–Yvon Ultima 2 ICP-AES spectrometer different settings and conditions were examined to improve the detection limit for potassium. The optimized parameters of 0.875 L min−1 sheath gas flow, 20/80 µm entrance/exit slit, 8 s MAX mode signal integration, and blank subtraction were able to lower the potassium reporting limit to 10 ng mL−1.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bings N, Bohaerts A, Broekaert J (2013) Atomic spectroscopy. Anal Chem 85:670–704
Djingove R, Mihaylova V, Lyubomirova V, Tsalev D (2013) Multielement analytical spectroscopy in plant ionomics. Res Appl Spectrosc Rev 48:384–424
Collantes E, Dunn W III (1991) Evaluation of multielement capability of ICP-MS. Appl Spectrosc 45(9):1537–1546
Le Corre N, Horiba scientific application note 31
Donati G, Amais R, Nobrega J (2011) Interference standard: a new approach to minimizing spectral interferences in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 26:1827–1832
Tingey J.M, Jones S.A (2005) Chemical and radiochemical composition of thermally stabilized plutonium oxide from the plutonium finishing plant considered as alternate feedstock for the mixed oxide fuel fabrication facility. PNNL-15241
Nelson T (1998) Advanced recovery and integrated extraction system (ARIES): the United States’ demonstration line for pit disassembly and conversion. LA-UR-98-1258 ON: DE00001347
Xu N, Tandon L, Gallimore D, Lujan E, Porterfield DR, Colletti L, Kuhn K (2012) Dissolution and assay of neptunium oxide. J Radioanal Nucl Chem. doi:10.1007/s10967-012-1947-z
Bianchi F, Maffini M, Mangia A, Marengo E, Mucchino C (2007) Experimental design optimization for the ICP-AES determination of Li, Na, K, Al, Fe, Mn and Zn in human serum. J Pharm Biomed Anal 43:659–665
Mohammed F, Bchitou R, Bouhaouss A, Gharby S, Harar H, Guillaume D, Charrouf Z (2013) Can the dietary element content of virgin argan oils really be used for adulteration detection. Food Chem 136:105–108
Unnikrishnan V, Nayak R, Aithal K, Kartha V, Santhosh C, Gupta G, Suri B (2013) Analysis of trace elements in complex matrices (soil) by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Anal Methods 5:1294–1300
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the National Nuclear Security Administration for funding the Project. The authors thank the following LANL personnel for their contributions to this study: Andres Borrego, Dennis Montoya. This publication is LA-UR-14-20153.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schappert, M., Gallimore, D. & Xu, N. Ultratrace potassium determination in plutonium oxide. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 303, 1911–1915 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3807-5
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3807-5