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Title: THE RADIOCHEMICAL DETERMINATION OF AMERICIUM IN THE PRESENCE OF PLUTONIUM IN URINE

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4763837· OSTI ID:4763837

Americium is precipitated with bismuth phosphate from a nitric acid- digested urine sample. The bismuth phosphate is wet-ashed, dissolved in 6N--HCl, and the americium is precipitated with lamthanum fluoride. The lanthanum fluoride is metathesized to the hydroxide, and the precipitate is dissolved in 2N- nitric acid. Removal of concurrently metabolized plutonium is accomplished by liquid-liquid extraction of the nitric acid soiution with 0.1-M di(2- ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EIIPA) in chloroform. The purified americium is carried on lanthanum fluoride. The precipitate is slurried onto a stainless steel plamchet and counted in a low-background proportional alpha counter. The method is effective for quantitative separation from plutonium and uranium. Quantities of the order of 0.5 dpm of americium cam be detected in a urine sample. (auth)

Research Organization:
Dow Chemical Co. Rocky Flats Plant, Denver
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AT(29-1)-1106
NSA Number:
NSA-17-002905
OSTI ID:
4763837
Report Number(s):
RFP-279
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English