Determination of {sup 230}Th, {sup 234}U, {sup 239}Pu, and {sup 240}Pu in soils by ICP-MS using flow-injection preconcentration
- RUST Geotech Inc., Grand Junction, CO (United States)
- EiChrom Industries, Darien, IL (United States)
The US Department of Energy needs improved analytical methods for alpha-emitting radionuclides to support environmental restoration and waste management projects. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used successfully to measure radionuclides with relatively long half-lives; however, ICP-MS used with conventional sample introduction techniques lacks the sensitivity or selectivity to measure shorter-lived radionuclides at levels important for environmental monitoring. New methods were developed for measuring {sup 230}Th, {sup 234}U, {sup 239}Pu, and {sup 240}Pu in soils. Samples are dried, ground, and dissolved by fusion. A flow injection (FI) analysis system is used to separate and concentrate the analytes by solid-phase extraction. The FI eluent is pumped directly into the nebulizer of the ICP-MS. The use of FI resulted in greater sensitivity and freedom from interferences when compared with direct aspiration. Detection limits are improved by approximately a factor of 20. The detection limits are approximately 3 Bq/kg (4 ng/kg) for {sup 230}Th, 0.6 Bq/kg (3 ng/kg) for {sup 234}U, 0.4 Bq/kg (0.2 ng/kg) for {sup 239}Pu, and 2 Bq/kg (0.3 ng/kg) for {sup 240}Pu. The FI-ICP-MS methods are faster, less labor intensive, and generate less laboratory waste than traditional radiochemical methods. The FI-ICP-MS gives individual results for {sup 239}Pu and {sup 240}Pu which cannot be resolved by the usual radiochemical method. The accuracy of the methods was verified by analyzing reference soils.
- OSTI ID:
- 409718
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410207-; ISBN 0-8031-2034-6; TRN: 97:000720
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium on applications of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to radionuclide determinations, Gatlinburg, TN (United States), 11-13 Oct 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Applications of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to radionuclide determinations; Morrow, R.W. [ed.] [Lockheed-Martin Energy Systems, Oak Ridge, TN (United States)]; Crain, J.S. [ed.] [Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)]; PB: 149 p.; ASTM STP 1291
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
40 CHEMISTRY
SOILS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
THORIUM 230
ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY
URANIUM 234
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
DISSOLUTION
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
NITRIC ACID
STANDARDS
EXTRACTION
CONCENTRATION RATIO
QUALITY CONTROL
INTERFERING ELEMENTS
ACCURACY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA