Environmental and human monitoring of Americium-241 utilizing extraction chromatography and {alpha}-Spectrometry
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Recent developments in extraction chromatography have simplified the separation of americium from complex matrices in preparation for {alpha}-spectroscopy relative to traditional methods. Here we present results of procedures developed/adapted for water, air, and bioassay samples with less than 1 g of inorganic residue. Prior analytical methods required the use of a complex, multistage procedure for separation of americium from these matrices. The newer, simplified procedure requires only a single 2 mL extraction chromatographic separation for isolation of Am and lanthanides from other components of the sample. This method has been implemented on an extensive variety of `real` environmental and bioassay samples from the Los Alamos area, and consistently reliable and accurate results with appropriate detection limits have been obtained. The new method increases analytical throughput by a factor of {approx}2 and decreases environmental hazards from acid and mixed-waste generation relative to the prior technique. Analytical accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability are also significantly improved over the more complex and laborious method used previously. 24 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 466344
- Journal Information:
- Analytical Chemistry (Washington), Vol. 69, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: 1 Mar 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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