Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluating bis(2-ethylhexyl) methanediphosphonic acid (H2DEH[MDP]) based polymer ligand film (PLF) for plutonium and uranium extraction

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes a new analyte extraction medium called polymer ligand film (PLF) that was developed to rapidly extract radionuclides. PLF is a polymer medium with ligands incorporated in its matrix that selectively and quickly extracts analytes. The main focus of the new technique is to shorten and simplify the procedure for chemically isolating radionuclides for determination through alpha spectroscopy. The PLF system was effective for plutonium and uranium extraction. The PLF was capable of co-extracting or selectively extracting plutonium over uranium depending on the PLF composition. The PLF and electrodeposited samples had similar alpha spectra resolutions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Helfand I, Forrow L, Tiwari J (2002) Nuclear terrorism. BMJ 324:356–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Grant PM, Moody KJ, Hutcheon ID et al (1998) Nuclear forensics in law enforcement applications. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 235:129–132. doi:10.1007/BF02385950

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mayer K, Wallenius M, Fanghänel T (2007) Nuclear forensic science—from cradle to maturity. J Alloys Compd 444–445:50–56. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2007.01.164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Mayer K, Wallenius M, Ray I (2005) Nuclear forensics—a methodology providing clues on the origin of illicitly trafficked nuclear materials. Analyst 130:433–441. doi:10.1039/B412922A

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Press release (2014) Calculating the new global nuclear terrorism threat. http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/2001/nt_pressrelease.shtml. Accessed 9 Sept 2015

  6. Baker H, Cutler L (2000) A report card on the department of energy’s nonproliferation programs with Russia. United States Department of Energy

  7. United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law (2014) http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/icsant/icsant.html. Accessed 9 Sept 2015

  8. Pöllänen R, Siiskonen T (2006) High-resolution alpha spectrometry under field conditions–fast identification of alpha particle emitting radionuclides from air samples. J Environ Radioact 87:279–288. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2005.12.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Plionis AA, Rim JH, Hastings EP et al (2009) Micro-electrodeposition techniques for the preparation of small actinide counting sources for ultra-high resolution alpha spectrometry by microcalorimetry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282:905–908. doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0251-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rim JH, Gonzales ER, Armenta CE et al (2013) Developing and evaluating di(2-ethylhexyl) orthophosphoric acid (HDEHP) based polymer ligand film (PLF) for plutonium extraction. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 296:1099–1103. doi:10.1007/s10967-012-2266-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rim JH, Peterson DS, Armenta CE et al (2015) Evaluating ligands for use in polymer ligand film (PLF) for plutonium and uranium extraction. J Radioanal Nucl Chem. doi:10.1007/s10967-015-4118-1

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gonzáles ER, Peterson DS (2009) Rapid radiochemical sample preparation for alpha spectrometry using polymer ligand films. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282:543–547. doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0218-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gonzáles ER, Klingensmith AL, Peterson DS (2011) Rapid separation and extraction of radioactive analytes onto filters and surfaces. Proc Radiochem Suppl Radiochim Acta 1:194–200. doi:10.1524/rcpr.2011.0035

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hanson SK, Mueller AH, Oldham WJ Jr (2014) Kläui ligand thin films for rapid plutonium analysis by alpha spectrometry. Anal Chem 86:1153–1159. doi:10.1021/ac402997e

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Oldham WJ, Dry DE, Mueller AH (2009) Synthesis of functional monolayer surfaces for rapid radiometric determination of plutonium. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282:585–589. doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0243-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Koulouridakis PE, Kallithrakas-Kontos NG (2004) Selective mercury determination after membrane complexation and total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis. Anal Chem 76:4315–4319. doi:10.1021/ac049780a

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Surbeck H (2000) Alpha spectrometry sample preparation using selectively adsorbing thin films. Appl Radiat Isot 53:97–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Graul TW, Li M, Schlenoff JB (1999) Ion exchange in ultrathin films. J Phys Chem B 103:2718–2723. doi:10.1021/jp983049o

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang L, Paimin R, Cattrall RW et al (2000) The extraction of cadmium(II) and copper(II) from hydrochloric acid solutions using an Aliquat 336/PVC membrane. J Membr Sci 176:105–111. doi:10.1016/S0376-7388(00)00436-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Horwitz EP, Chiarizia R, Dietz ML (1997) DIPEX: a new extraction chromatographic material for the separation and preconcentration of actinides from aqueous solution. React Funct Polym 33:25–36. doi:10.1016/S1381-5148(97)00013-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Moyer BA (2009) Ion exchange and solvent extraction: a series of advances, vol 19. Taylor and Francis, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Herlinger AW, Ferraro JR, Chiarizia R, Horwitz EP (1997) An investigation of P, P′-di(2-ethylhexyl) methanediphosphonic acid and some of its metal complexes. Polyhedron 16:1843–1854. doi:10.1016/S0277-5387(96)00495-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Siemann U (2005) Solvent cast technology—a versatile tool for thin film production. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–14

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bortels G, Collaers P (1987) Analytical function for fitting peaks in alpha-particle spectra from Si detectors. Int J Rad Appl Instrum [A] 38:831–837. doi:10.1016/0883-2889(87)90180-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Katz JJ, Morss LR, Edelstein N, Fuger J (2011) The chemistry of the actinide and transactinide elements, 4th edn. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was performed with the support of the U.S. Departments of Energy Office of Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development and U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the support from the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract number DE-AC52-06NA25396. This document had been reviewed and assigned publication number: ‘LA-UR-14-24118’ Version 3.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    Jung H. Rim, Claudine E. Armenta & Edward R. Gonzales

  2. Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Kenan Ünlü

  3. Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    Dominic S. Peterson

Authors
  1. Jung H. Rim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Claudine E. Armenta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Edward R. Gonzales
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kenan Ünlü
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dominic S. Peterson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominic S. Peterson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rim, J.H., Armenta, C.E., Gonzales, E.R. et al. Evaluating bis(2-ethylhexyl) methanediphosphonic acid (H2DEH[MDP]) based polymer ligand film (PLF) for plutonium and uranium extraction. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 307, 2327–2332 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4444-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4444-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation