Determination of femtogram quantities of protactinium in geologic samples by thermal ionization mass spectrometry

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Analytical Chemistry (Washington); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00079a020· OSTI ID:7019278

Pickett, D A; Murrell, M T; Williams, R W ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

We describe a procedure for measurement of [sup 231]Pa in geologic samples by isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry, using [sup 233]Pa as a spike isotope, which provides marked improvements in precision and sample size relative to established decay counting techniques. This method allows determination of as little as a few tens of femtograms of [sup 231]Pa (approximately 10[sup 3] atoms) with a conservative estimated uncertainty of [+-]1% (95% confidence level). Applications of [sup 231]Pa-[sup 235]U systematics to uranium-series geochemistry and geochronology should be greatly enhanced by this approach. 31 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 7019278
• Journal Information: Analytical Chemistry (Washington); (United States), Vol. 66:7; ISSN 0003-2700
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
58 GEOSCIENCES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
ISOTOPE DATING
PROTACTINIUM 231
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
PROTACTINIUM 233
TRACER TECHNIQUES
URANIUM 235
ACTINIDE ISO
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AGE ESTIMATION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAVY ION DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NEON 24 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PROTACTINIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
SPECTROSCOPY
SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
400702* - Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry- Properties of Radioactive Materials
580000 - Geosciences
400102 - Chemical & Spectral Procedures