Behavior and distribution of 239+240Pu and 241Am in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia marine environment

Mahmood, Zal U'yun Wan; Shahar, Hidayah; Ahmad, Zainal Ariffin; Wo, Yii Mei; Bakar, Ahmad Sanadi Abu

doi:10.1007/s10967-010-0650-1

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…However, significant amounts of 239 Pu (0.92 ± 0.08 fg), 240 Pu (0.09±0.03 fg), and 241 Am (0.12±0.03 fg) were found in 1 pg of the 243 Am tracer. The accurate analysis of extremely low amounts of 239 Pu (<6 fg/L), 240 Pu (<6 fg/L), and 241 Am (<0.3 fg/L) in samples − was significantly hampered when one picogram of the 243 Am tracer was added to the sample. Thus, prior to the simultaneous analysis of Pu and Am isotopes in ultralow-level samples, it is essential to purify the 243 Am standard to remove the Pu impurities.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simultaneous Determination of Transuranium Radionuclides for Nuclear Forensics by Compact Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

et al. 2023

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Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is one of the most sensitive techniques used to measure the long-lived actinides. This is particularly of interest for determination of ultra-trace transuranium nuclides and their isotopic fingerprints for nuclear forensics. In this work, a new method was developed for simultaneous determination of transuranium nuclides (Np, Pu, Am, and Cm isotopes) by using 300 kV AMS after a sequential chemical separation of each group of actinides. 242Pu and 243Am were utilized as tracers for Np/Pu and Am/Cm yield monitoring. The results show that the chemical behaviors of Np and Pu on the TK200 column and those of Am and Cm on the DGA column were very consistent in 8–9 mol/L of HNO3 and 0.015–0.03 mol/L of NaNO2 media during the radiochemical separation. The AMS detection efficiencies for transuranium nuclides were also evaluated. The detection limits for all radionuclides are below femtogram level and even in attogram level for Pu and Cm isotopes. The established method has been successfully applied to accurately measure various transuranium nuclides in a single actinide radionuclide solution, demonstrating its feasibility for nuclear forensic investigation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simultaneous Determination of Transuranium Radionuclides for Nuclear Forensics by Compact Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

et al. 2023

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“…Am exists in a low oxidation state under natural conditions and is easily hydrolyzed and quickly scavenged by sinking particles. Salinity has a certain relationship with the activity of Pu . Affected by the monsoon, ocean circulation, salinity, and other factors, Pu is rapidly scavenged in coastal areas .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Salinity has a certain relationship with the activity of Pu. 20 Affected by the monsoon, ocean circulation, salinity, and other factors, Pu is rapidly scavenged in coastal areas. 42 The estuary area has unique dynamic and sedimentary factors.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent studies have shown that due to the continuous decay of the parent 241 Pu, the activity of Am in the environment gradually increases, causing the 241 Am/ 239+240 Pu activity ratio to continuously increase, , and is expected to reach its maximum in 2081 . However, with the deepening of research, a lot of work has shown that the distribution of this ratio in seawater and sediments is quite different, , and the different fractionation of Am and Pu by sinking particles leads to higher Am:Pu ratios appearing in surface sediments . For Np, when 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atom ratio is 0.18, the 237 Np/ 239 Pu atom ratio is 0.45 (global fallout), but the sample taken by fishing boat in the sea near the 1954 “Brave” text found that the ratio is only 0.42 (PPG) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am as Fingerprints in the Major River Basins of Southern China and North South China Sea: A Land–Sea Perspective

Han

Zhu

et al. 2021

ACS Omega

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During the global nuclear weapon tests, large amounts of radioactive elements are released into the environment. Long-period actinide elements such as Np, Pu, and Am exhibit different behaviors in various environments, and their isotope characteristic fingerprints are of great significance for studying the distribution, migration, and prediction of radioactive pollutants. To investigate the distribution of 241 Am and 237 Np in southern China, activities of 241 Am (0.008 ± 0.012−0.932 ± 0.066 Bq/kg) and 237 Np (0.037 ± 0.003−1.458 ± 0.063 mBq/kg), 237 Np/ 239 Pu atom ratios (0.055 ± 0.003−0.864 ± 0.054), and 241 Am/ 239+240 Pu activity ratios (0.033 ± 0.075−15.870 ± 0.477) in 95 surface sediment samples collected from the northern South China Sea and major river basins were analyzed for the first time. Due to the different scavenging mechanisms of Am and Pu, 241 Am is preferentially concentrated by sinking the particulate, while plutonium is scavenged in the coastal area, resulting in a higher 241 Am/ 239+240 Pu activity ratio in estuary and coastal areas. The distribution of 237 Np shows obvious spatial inhomogeneity as the high migration rate. The relevant fingerprint characteristic has changed greatly and needs to be updated urgently. As a result of the convergence of land and sea, 241 Am, 239,240 Pu, and 237 Np are dominated by terrestrial sediments and deposited in the coastal area of southern China, which should be paid more attention to. This work can establish China's current neptunium radioactivity database, and the difference in Np, Pu, and Am scavenging processes may be a powerful tool for evaluating the impact of the Pearl River Estuary salt tide.

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“…Three reference materials, IAEA 368, IAEA 384 and IAEA 385 were used as samples and were radio chemically separated. All samples were treated with sample digestion, anion exchange, purification and electrodeposition before being counted using [17], b [18], c [19], d [20] alpha spectrometry system. The standard reference materials chosen were suitable to determine the activity of Pu radioisotopes to represent the marine environment.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of <sup>238</sup>PU and <sup>239+240</sup>PU in Marine Sediment Using Alpha Spectrometry

Yusof¹,

Sharib²,

Jaffary³

2017

Eurasian J Anal Chem

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A radiochemical separation method to determine plutonium (Pu) radioisotopes in environmental samples has been established in Radiochemistry and Environmental Laboratory in Malaysia. The analysis involving sample digestion with aqua regia solution and followed by radiochemical separation using ion exchange method. The source for alpha spectrometry was prepared by electrodeposition. The chemical recoveries were determined using 242 Pu tracer. The method was tested on reference materials and on real sediments from Malaysia marine environment. The validity of the method was checked for coherence using the t-test, relative error and relative standard deviation. All the results obtained were in good agreement with the reference values which indicated that the recommended procedures was successfully applied for the determination of plutonium activities in Radiochemistry and Environmental Laboratory in Malaysia.

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Behavior and distribution of 239+240Pu and 241Am in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia marine environment

Cited by 9 publications

References 16 publications

Simultaneous Determination of Transuranium Radionuclides for Nuclear Forensics by Compact Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Simultaneous Determination of Transuranium Radionuclides for Nuclear Forensics by Compact Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am as Fingerprints in the Major River Basins of Southern China and North South China Sea: A Land–Sea Perspective

Determination of <sup>238</sup>PU and <sup>239+240</sup>PU in Marine Sediment Using Alpha Spectrometry

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Behavior and distribution of 239+240Pu and 241Am in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia marine environment

Cited by 9 publications

References 16 publications

Simultaneous Determination of Transuranium Radionuclides for Nuclear Forensics by Compact Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Simultaneous Determination of Transuranium Radionuclides for Nuclear Forensics by Compact Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

237Np and 241Am as Fingerprints in the Major River Basins of Southern China and North South China Sea: A Land–Sea Perspective

Determination of <sup>238</sup>PU and <sup>239+240</sup>PU in Marine Sediment Using Alpha Spectrometry

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²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am as Fingerprints in the Major River Basins of Southern China and North South China Sea: A Land–Sea Perspective