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Solvent extraction method for determination of plutonium in soft tissue

Journal Article · · Anal. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac50024a046· OSTI ID:5200702

A simple, quick, and accurate method has been developed for the determination of plutonium isotopes in soft tissues. First /sup 242/Pu tracer is added and then the tissues are digested using concentrated nitric acid followed by a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids. Plutonium is then coprecipitated with iron carrier after the addition of ammonium hydroxide. The precipitate is dissolved in HNO/sub 3/ (1 : 1) after complete removal of sulfate ions and the acidity adjusted to 3 M. Plutonium is maintained in the +4 valence state and extracted twice with 25 percent trilaurylamine in xylene (pre-equilibrated with 3M nitric acid). The organic phase is washed twice with equal volumes in 10 M HCl to remove traces of thorium and then with HNO/sub 3/ to remove iron and uranium. Plutonium is then scrubbed from the trilaurylamine phase two times with 2 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, evaporated almost to dryness, electrodeposited onto a platinum planchet, and counted by alpha spectrometry with a surface barrier silicon diode. The final recovery ranged from 49 to 85 percent with a mean of 61 percent.

Research Organization:
New York Univ. Medical Center, NY
OSTI ID:
5200702
Journal Information:
Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 50:2; ISSN ANCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English