Determination of long-lived actinides in soil leachates by inductively coupled plasma: Mass spectrometry

Conference · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10160723

Crain, J S; Smith, L L; Yaeger, J S; Alvarado, J A

Inductively coupled plasma -- mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to concurrently determine multiple long-lived (t{sub 1/2} > 10{sup 4} y) actinide isotopes in soil samples. Ultrasonic nebulization was found to maximize instrument sensitivity. Instrument detection limits for actinides in solution ranged from 50 mBq L{sup {minus}1} ({sup 239}Pu) to 2 {mu}Bq L{sup {minus}1} ({sup 235}U) Hydride adducts of {sup 232}Th and {sup 238}U interfered with the determinations of {sup 233}U and {sup 239} Pu; thus, extraction chromatography was, used to eliminate the sample matrix, concentrate the analytes, and separate uranium from the other actinides. Alpha spectrometric determinations of {sup 230}Th, {sup 239}Pu, and the {sup 234}U/{sup 238}U activity ratio in soil leachates compared well with ICP-MS determinations; however, there were some small systematic differences (ca. 10%) between ICP-MS and a-spectrometric determinations of {sup 234}U and {sup 238}U activities.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10160723
• Report Number(s): ANL/CMT-ACL/CP--83255; CONF-940401--14; ON: DE94013871
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400100
ACTINIDES
ANALYTICAL AND SEPARATIONS CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DETECTION
MASS SPECTROMETERS
NEPTUNIUM
PLUTONIUM
RADIOISOTOPES
SOILS
THORIUM
URANIUM