Radiochemical Separation and Measurement by Mass Spectrometry with Magnetic Sector with Inductively Coupled Plasma source (ICP-SFMS) of Plutonium Isotopes in Soil Samples

C. O.  Torres-Cortes; H.  Hernandez-Mendoza; H. R.  Vega-Carrillo; E. T.  Romero-Guzman

doi:10.15415/jnp.2016.41014

Authors

C. O. Torres-Cortes Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares. Carretera México-Toluca S/N, La Marquesa, Ocoyoacác, Edo. de México, C. P. 52750, México.; Unidad Académica en Estudios Nucleares de la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas. C. Ciprés 10, Peñuela, Zacatecas, Zac. C.P. 98068, México.
H. Hernandez-Mendoza Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares. Carretera México-Toluca S/N, La Marquesa, Ocoyoacác, Edo. de México, C. P. 52750, México.
H. R. Vega-Carrillo Unidad Académica en Estudios Nucleares de la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas. C. Ciprés 10, Peñuela, Zacatecas, Zac. C.P. 98068, México.
E. T. Romero-Guzman Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares. Carretera México-Toluca S/N, La Marquesa, Ocoyoacác, Edo. de México, C. P. 52750, México.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2016.41014

Keywords:

Plutonium isotopes, Radiochemical separation, Soil, ICP-SFMS

Abstract

The aim of this work is twofold: to optimize the radiochemical separation of Plutonium (Pu) from soil samples, and to measure the Pu concentration. Soil samples were prepared using acid digestion assisted by microwaves; then, Pu purification was carried out with Pu AG1X8 resin. Pu isotopes were measured using Mass Spectrometry with Magnetic Sector with Inductively Coupled Plasma source (ICP-SFMS). In order to reduce the interference due to the presence of 238UH+ in the samples a desolvation system (Apex) was used. The limit of detection (LOD) of Pu was determined. The efficiency of Pu recovery from soil samples varies from 70 to 93%.

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