Sequential analyses of actinides in large-size soil and sediment samples with total sample dissolution

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Growing demand for actinide determination in environmental samples.
• Need for reliable methods in environmental monitoring, radiological protection, and nuclear forensics.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a method for simultaneous determination of Pu, Am, and Cm isotopes.
• Enable analysis of large-size environmental samples.

Main Methods:

• Total sample dissolution using lithium metaborate fusion.
• Sequential column chromatography for isotope separation.
• Alpha spectrometry and mass spectrometry for detection.

Main Results:

• Overall recoveries >70% for Pu and Am in large soil samples.
• Method validated with spiked samples and certified reference materials (IAEA-384, IAEA-385).
• Excellent agreement between measured and expected values.

Conclusions:

• The developed method is effective for simultaneous actinide determination.
• Suitable for analyzing large environmental samples with high accuracy.
• Reliable tool for environmental monitoring and radiological assessments.