Rapid fusion method for the determination of Pu, Np, and Am in large soil samples
Abstract
A new rapid sodium hydroxide fusion method for the preparation of 10-20 g soil samples has been developed by the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). The method enables lower detection limits for plutonium, neptunium, and americium in environmental soil samples. The method also significantly reduces sample processing time and acid fume generation compared to traditional soil digestion techniques using hydrofluoric acid. Ten gram soil aliquots can be ashed and fused using the new method in 1-2 hours, completely dissolving samples, including refractory particles. Pu, Np and Am are separated using stacked 2mL cartridges of TEVA and DGA Resin and measured using alpha spectrometry. The method can be adapted for measurement by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Two 10 g soil aliquots of fused soil may be combined prior to chromatographic separations to further improve detection limits. Total sample preparation time, including chromatographic separations and alpha spectrometry source preparation, is less than 8 hours.
- Authors:
-
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
- PG Research Foundation. Lisle, IL (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1171510
- Report Number(s):
- SRNL-STI-2014-00622
Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC09-08SR22470
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 305; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 58 GEOSCIENCES; RAPID; PLUTONIUM; AMERICIUM; SOIL; FUSION; LARGE
Citation Formats
Maxwell, Sherrod L., Culligan, Brian, Hutchison, Jay B., and McAlister, Daniel R. Rapid fusion method for the determination of Pu, Np, and Am in large soil samples. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1007/s10967-015-3992-x.
Maxwell, Sherrod L., Culligan, Brian, Hutchison, Jay B., & McAlister, Daniel R. Rapid fusion method for the determination of Pu, Np, and Am in large soil samples. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-3992-x
Maxwell, Sherrod L., Culligan, Brian, Hutchison, Jay B., and McAlister, Daniel R. Sat .
"Rapid fusion method for the determination of Pu, Np, and Am in large soil samples". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-3992-x. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1171510.
@article{osti_1171510,
title = {Rapid fusion method for the determination of Pu, Np, and Am in large soil samples},
author = {Maxwell, Sherrod L. and Culligan, Brian and Hutchison, Jay B. and McAlister, Daniel R.},
abstractNote = {A new rapid sodium hydroxide fusion method for the preparation of 10-20 g soil samples has been developed by the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). The method enables lower detection limits for plutonium, neptunium, and americium in environmental soil samples. The method also significantly reduces sample processing time and acid fume generation compared to traditional soil digestion techniques using hydrofluoric acid. Ten gram soil aliquots can be ashed and fused using the new method in 1-2 hours, completely dissolving samples, including refractory particles. Pu, Np and Am are separated using stacked 2mL cartridges of TEVA and DGA Resin and measured using alpha spectrometry. The method can be adapted for measurement by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Two 10 g soil aliquots of fused soil may be combined prior to chromatographic separations to further improve detection limits. Total sample preparation time, including chromatographic separations and alpha spectrometry source preparation, is less than 8 hours.},
doi = {10.1007/s10967-015-3992-x},
journal = {Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry},
number = 2,
volume = 305,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Sat Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
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journal, February 2017
- Wang, Zhongtang; Zheng, Jian; Tagami, Keiko
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 312, Issue 1
Rapid determination of uranium isotopes in calcium fluoride sludge by tandem quadrupole ICP-MS/MS
journal, January 2019
- Xing, Shan; Luo, Maoyi; Wu, Yang
- Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 34, Issue 10
Sequential determination of uranium and plutonium in soil and sediment samples by borate salts fusion
journal, January 2020
- Sáez-Muñoz, Marina; Ortiz, Josefina; Martorell, Sebastián
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 323, Issue 3
Present status and perspective of radiochemical analysis of radionuclides in Nordic countries
journal, February 2016
- Hou, Xiaolin; Olsson, Mattias; Togneri, Laura
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 309, Issue 3