Flow Electrolysis on Anodized Carbon Fibers for Pu Separation and Analysis

Area of Science:

• Radiochemistry and Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Plutonium (Pu) isotope analysis via radiometric or mass spectrometry requires chemical separation to remove interfering actinides and matrix components.
• Traditional separation methods like extraction or ion exchange chromatography can be time-consuming and introduce impurities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore flow electrolytic separation on anodized carbon fibers as a new, efficient method for Pu isotope separation and analysis.
• To develop and validate a method for measuring Pu isotopes (e.g., 238Pu, 239,240Pu) using alpha-spectrometry following electrolytic separation.

Main Methods:

• Anodization of a high-surface-area carbon fiber felt electrode to introduce oxygen-containing functional groups.
• Flow electrolysis for the accumulation of Pu(IV) by adjusting electrode potential and subsequent release via electroreduction to Pu(III).
• Characterization of the anodized carbon fiber using X-ray photoelectron and infrared spectroscopy.
• Method validation with digested solid samples (wipe tests, ceramics, sludge) and comparison with chromatographic methods.

Main Results:

• Anodization effectively functionalizes carbon fibers, enabling selective Pu(IV) retention.
• The electrolytic method achieved fast, single-step separation of Pu, excluding other actinides (U, Am, Cm) and matrix elements.
• The developed method demonstrated reliability and good tolerance for complex matrices, producing high-quality alpha-spectrometry sources.

Conclusions:

• Flow electrolytic separation on anodized carbon fibers is a promising alternative for Pu isotope analysis.
• This technique simplifies sample preparation, reduces analysis time, and minimizes contamination compared to conventional methods.
• The method is suitable for routine analysis of Pu isotopes in diverse and challenging environmental or nuclear samples.