Development of an automated microfluidic system for actinide separation and analysis

Mass spectroscopy and microfluidic technology, when combined, offer significant advantages in radiochemical analysis sample volume and cost reduction. A microfluidic device designed for efficiency has been developed. This device separates uranium from key trace elements by utilising UTEVA® chromatographic resins and nitric acid solutions of different concentrations for adsorption and recovery. The eluates from this microdevice are then diluted and directed to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry system, enabling direct analysis of trace elements and uranium with minimal operator-sample interaction. This efficient approach greatly reduces the volume of sample required for trace elemental analysis in actinide materials, thereby reducing costs and satisfying the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle.