Multimodal separation of alkali, alkaline earth, transition, post-transition, lanthanide, and actinide metal cations in waste sludge
An ion chromatographic method, which separates 36 different cations in a single chromatographic run, was developed to separate and analyze trace radionuclides present on high level radioactive waste samples. The method employs linear and step gradients and isocratic elution using four different eluents in six different eluent phases. The separation takes 45 minutes and has detection limits ranging from 0.1 ppM to 5.0 ppM, when using spectrophotometric detection for nonradioactive cations, depending on the sample matrix. The detection limits and relative standard deviation of the data are dependent upon the element and sample matrix. This method can be reliably performed in the laboratory if properly prepared samples are used. This study describes the applications, limitations, interferences, precision, and accuracy of this method. Using this method, trace radionuclides, which are present in concentrations of only a few hundred disintegrations per minute per milliliter, can be separated and then analyzed by using liquid scintillation counting analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This paper will first describe the chromatographic separation as it was developed and applied to the analysis of aqueous samples with low ppM levels of nonradioactive cations. Next, the application of this method to the separation and analysis of high level waste tank samples will be discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- OSTI ID:
- 10131572
- Report Number(s):
- WSRC-MS-91-145; CONF-9105316-1; ON: DE92009420
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium for ion chromatography in the power industry,New Orleans, LA (United States),19-23 May 1991; Other Information: PBD: [1991]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
TANKS
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
CHROMATOGRAPHY
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MEASURING METHODS
052001
400105
400101
400102
WASTE PROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCEDURES
ACTIVATION, NUCLEAR REACTION, RADIOMETRIC, AND RADIOCHEMICAL PROCEDURES
CHEMICAL AND SPECTRAL PROCEDURES